iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Dm \mm
P,0, BOX 1095
™, imiAHA
U,S,A 46970
OCTOBER 1992
$18 yr,
$4.95 issue
* UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS *
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS is Edited and Published by Carol and
Frank Davis of P.O. Box 1095 , Peru, Indiana 46970 . Phone number
is 317-473-8031, with normal phone hours being between 5 P.M.
and 9 : 30 P.M. Eastern Time during the week and Noon to 6 P.M. on
weekends . When we are not there or unavailable, please leave a
message with our answering machine, you'll be answered by mail.
Mailing date for all issues is the fifteenth of the issue month.
At times due to Postal Holidays, or the 15th falling on a
weekend ( bulk mail not accepted on weekends ) they will be
received at the Postal Unit the next business day. Please al low
two to three weeks from this date before assuming your issue is
not on its way to you. The Postal service tells us it can take
as long as 6 weeks via bulk mail. For those wanting speedier
service, contact us for making arrangements.
The magazine is published on a quarterly basis in the months of
October, January, April and July. All subscriptions begin and
end at the same time. . . first issue being October and al 1
renewals coming due after receipt of the July issue. The cost
is $18.00 U.S. for a one year subscription for North America,
and for those outside of this area $22.00 U.S. We accept
personal and business checks , money orders, and Cash. We do not
accept credit cards at this time, due to costs. Back issues,
where available can be obtained from us, at regular prices.
Assistance in Publishing this magazine is provided by Eliad P.
Wannum, poet , computer user and all round good guy. The
magazine is made possible by the regular contributors such as
Peter Hale, Bill Cable, Paul Holmgren, Bill Pedersen , Bob
Hartung to name a few, and by the many contributions of other
writers and programmers. Your contributions to this magazine are
welcome. This is truly a magazine BY THE USER AND FOR THE USER
OF SINCLAIR, TIMEX AND CAMBRIDGE COMPUTERS. When we cover other
operating systems such as CPM or MSDOS it will be in
relationship to our computers or emulators for our systems to
run their software. We primarily cover disk based systems and
software for the TS2068, Spectrum, QL, Z88. . .and will cover
items on the TSIOOO if disk drive based or in relationship to
using it with the above mentioned computers. We do accept
reviews of peripherals that are useable by our systems, such as
scanners, printers, modems, etc. Submissions should be on disk
or hard copy (two copies emd at least NLQ, no draft mode). If
there is artwork , please let us know in what order it should be
used, and provide it as a saved screen or hard copy screen dump.
The format is very relaxed. Just pay attention to the width of
the pages and allow 3/4 inch top and bottom, and make the left
and right margins wide enough to accomodate a 3 hole punch that
does not cut out some of the text. We have enlarge and reduction
capacity to adjust a page, but may lose some print legibility in
the process. Most important is legibility. Draft quality dot
matrix does not reproduce well. Print size preference is ELITE
12 characters per inch. PICA 10 characters per inch is okay
also, but please no condensed print . Please do not make programs
submitted on cassette tape, use disk, radv or wafer. Z88 programs
on disk may be in either IBM or QL format or hardcopy. TS2068
programs may be LLISTED in 32 chr . lines .
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS PAGE DIRECTORY, OCTOBER 1992
The computer that an article concerns is marked by using the
following mark at the start of the page number-TS2068 = *,QL = #
,Z88 = % ,TS1000=~. There will be no mark if the article or ad
applies to all or several different computer systems.
Inside Front Cover contains magazine information.
Page No. 1 UPDATE Directory of Magazine Contents
Page No. 2 Editorial by Frank Davis
Page No. 3 Dayton Computer f est Report by Frank Davis
♦Page No. 4 TS2068 Video Bells and Whistles by Bill Pedersen
Page No. 8 Mechanical Affinity Ad
★Page No. 9 A Screen Dump Program by Basil Wentworth
*Page No. 12 Print Factory Graphics Ad — John McMichael
♦Page No. 13 ROM Bypass Circuit Description by Bill Pedersen
♦Page No. 15 TS2068 ROM Bypass Schematic by Bill Pedersen
♦Page No. 16 CAD#5 BE Listing for Oliger/EPSON by Bill
Pedersen
Page No. 18 Back Issues of UPDATE
♦Page No. 19 TIMEX Disk Operating System — Disk Boot by
Andrew Hradesky
Page No. 20 RMG Ad— Rod Gowen
#Page No. 21 Exploring New Environments by Bob Hartung
#Page No. 23 Cable Column by Bill Cable— Archive Series
Part 10
Page No. 25 Adding RGB to Your 2068 (and QL) by Joe
Williamson (SUM reprint)
Page No. 27 Computer Classics Ad — Dan Elliott
♦Page No. 28 RS232 Serial Interface from 2050 Modem from
a Zebra Ad (no longer in Sinclair business)
♦Page No. 30— CAD#5 Intfc_BE Listing for Oliger/EPSON by
Bill Pedersen
♦Page No. 33 Addendum to CAD by FWD
#Page No. 34 News and New Products for Your QL by Eliad
P . Wannum
#Page No. 36 C.G.H. Services Ad — European PD and Shareware
%Page No. 38 News on the Z88 in North America by Eliad P.
Wanniim
#Page No. 40 QL Survivors Source Book Ad
#Page No. 41 Corrected QL Membrane Matrix by Holmgren ^
and Hereid
Page No. 42 Transferring Z88 Files to the TS2068 by John
Shepard
%Page No. 44 The Music Suite Ltd. Ad
%Page No. 45 Mike Fink on Z88 and Fax from Domino Cubes
%Page No. 49 MacLink and PCLink
Back Covers Issue Disks for TS2068 and QL
All material used in this publication is copywritten and remains
solely in ownership by either the Magazine or the author. To
reprint from this magazine please contact either the magazine
or specific author. All Issue Disks are copyrighted and remain
the property of the software author. All hardware advice is
followed at the users sole risk. Where needed please consult
with competent help on all hardware modifications or projects.
Most of all enjoy the magazine and may it greatly enhance your
use of your computer.
J
OCTOBER EDITORIAL by Frank Davis
Welcome to the first issue of the 1992-93 subscription year of
UPDATE Magazine. I hope that all of you will enjoy this issue. If
you have failed to renew your subscription (they all came due last
July, save for two of you) then please do so at this time. No
other issues will be sent out to those who are not current paid up
subscribers, it just cost us too much. I enjoy doing this
magazine, but my philanthropy only goes so far. The vast majority
of you already did so, and for you a big thanks. We welcome your
constructive input, as well as your program and article
contributions. And now as they say here in Peru (Circus City
Capital of the World), on with the show!
This issue finds us favoring more to the Z88 and the TS2068,
so next issue I promise to give more of an edge to the QL, as it
is my main machine these days. Oddly enough it was my involvement
with Mechanical Affinity that brought this about. It was necessary
to be very familiar with what one sells. Next issue we will be
touching on this as we hope to do some mini profiles of several
North American Sinclair dealers. The more you know about the
people who serve you, perhaps the easier it will be for dealer and
customer to work together. It also makes ^or good trivia.
I heard from Bob Dyl, Editor of IQLR, that around the end of
November we will be seeing the" release of Miracle's new QL
compatible machine and a QL card for" the IBM compatible. Two new
ways to keep on using the QDOS! My hopes at this time are that the
price is reasonable for the two of them. I have quite a bit
invested in QL soft and hardware and just want an upgraded machine
to continue using this fine system. These are not the only ways
you can upgrade on the QL system, but I will let Eliad tell you
more about what is going on in that scene in one of his articles
this issue.
Just what do we have this issue that is new for the TS2068?
Well we get started on a new program, for those who operate a
small business and use their TS2068. This will help with payroll
as well as a few other things. This issue we will print the docs
for it, and the listings next issue. For those who cannot wait to
get it typed in, or want it sooner, it will be offered as an issue
disk for $20.00 US$. At this time it is only available in the
Larken format. By the way has anyone heard from Larry Kenny
lately? As we get new issue disks I will be retiring some of 'the
older ones. For now they are still available, but as in ail
things, when there is little or no demand ...they go away. I will
also finish up on the differences for the IBM version of CAD for
those who want to type it in. Early on we offered some from Bob
Mitchell of the Toronto Club. I thought they were good programs,
but there was not even one order, so we withdrew them.
Next issue will see the final emergence of a new issue disk
for the QL. I will be filling out the disk with some short
programs and utilities that have come our way in the last two
years. Some might have made it into print had they come with some
text or been other than CODE. Sadly, new programs for the QL have
been in short supply the last few months. Those of you who are
programmers, please share some of your wisdom with the rest of us.
I can not offer you money if you write for us (except for issue
disks, where half of the money goes to the author) but you will
get some small measure of fame and gratitude. Bye for now!
2
DAYTON COiyiF'UTERF'EST FiEPORT
by FRANK DAVIS
Many thanks to all of the folks who made the trek to the
Dayton DMA Computerfest at the end of August. Carol and I were
pleased to see many old friends and to make some new ones. A great
deal of people showed up, and many who said they would be
there.. were not! Human nature is so hard to figure out. At times
this reminds me of asking a girl out on a date and being told she
has to wash her hair that weekend!?! Still a lot of fun was had by
those in attendance, and for UPDATE Magazine and Mechanical
Affinity, both found it a financial success.
After the long and arduous loading up and making of the
trip (first making sure that the dogs and cats were well cared
for), we arrived at the Red Roof Inn in Dayton, only to be told we
had had many people call looking for us. It is nice to have
friends. The poor girl at the motel desk was glad we had finally
arrived. In the lobby were Gene Wilson and Toby Radloff of
Cleveland, Paul Holmgren and Bill Angel of Indianapolis, Don
Lambert of Auburn (home of the Cord for you auto buffs), and we
later ran into Jeff Taylor and Rene Bruneau of the Toronto area,
Mark Stuber of Sharp's, Bill and John Pedersen of Grand Rapids,
and Tim Swenson and Manuel Quintero of the D.C. area. From that
point on, whenever we went to supper or breakf ast . . . we went in
mass groups. At the show of course we ran into many other
friends, such as D.G. Smith and son. Bill Heberlein, Neal Schultz,
Mel Laverne, Bill Bell, Doug Gillespie and Dave Bennett, to name
just a few.
We went over on Friday, the night before the show, and
set up our 4 tables (which really was not enough room to display
all that we had for sale) and got to visit with some of the Dayton
users, led by their trusty leader, Gary Ganger. Contrary to *fhat
we had been told, we were placed exactly in the same location as
the year before. This made it easy for folks to find us, if 'they
had been there last year. As for booths that were devoted to
Sinclair products, there was Bill Angels flea market, SMUG of
Milwaukee, T/Snug (who shared space with Chicago, but Chicago was
a no show), DMA's Tiraex Sinclair SIG and a booth of D.G. Smiths. I
hope I have not missed anyone. If so, pardon my error in advance.
I spent the next couple of days selling books,
hardware, software and browsing other booths to find programs to
feed to my other computer, my Amiga. Sometime I hope to find the
spare time to see if I can Network my QL and Amiga. Just a side
note on the Amiga! I have an improved, by the fine folks of
Colorado thanks to Andy Hradesky, QL emulator for use on the 68000
series of Amigas. Soon, it should also be set to run on the other
accelerated Amigas. If you are interested in getting a copy of
this, get in contact with me.
We were told that aboiit 27,000 people attended this
years Computerfest, which would make the show a definite success.
Last year the attendance was figured at just over 15,000. I would
have liked to have seen it advertised more by the Dayton group to
Sinclair users. I would also have liked to have at least seen
mention of it in the Sinclair user group newsletters. I know that
they all heard about it. They just failed to pass on the word to
the readers of their newsletters. When there are so few of us, it
ill behooves any of us to act in petty ways. When ever there is
any event that concerns the use of Sinclair or Cambridge
computers, anywhere in North America, that is the kind of news
that belongs in all of our user group newsletters. We should all
give the information to our readers and allow them to decide on an
individual basis if they wish to attend. The event was still good.
TS2068 Video Bells and Whistles
The Faint -of -Heart Zone
Stay away from advanced video modes at any cost! Who needs them? Besides,
what we can already do is all anyone really needs.
The screen is divided up into 24 rows of 32 characters, each of which can have
8 ink and paper colors plus bright and flash attributes. In addition, writing
characters can be done using exclusive OR logic (useful for cursors), ordinary OR
(useful for overprinting), AND (for selective erasing), and other modes for
transparent ink, paper, negation and contrast.
In graphic mode, there are 176 rows of 256 dots (pixels) which can be plotted
and drawn. Even though colors can be used, they apply only to whatever character
space in which work is being done. Planning is required to avoid "bleeding".
Creating a graphics cursor is challenging, but rewarding.
Color blind people become irritated when the use of color interferes with
their use of a program. Politely, the answer is to use color only for decoration,
but this cheats others out of the program enhancements that color makes possible.
The best way is to have separate programs for monochrome and color.
The Somewhat -Daring Zone
A limit of 32 characters per line makes it difficult to do word processing.
Fear not! The TS2068 has an advanced video mode which increases horizontal pixels
from 256 to 512, allowing 64 normal (or more if special) characters to appear per
line. The BASIC commands for writing to the screen must be supported by new
routines, either rewritten as with "64", or in high memory as shown in the technical
manual. Color is available, but applies only to the entire screen. Bright and
flash generally produce poor viewing conditions.
Graphic mode is possible. Its primary use would be for word charts and line
drawing in support of word processing.
Though better than 32 wide for word processing, there is still not enough room
on screen to accomodate a graphic printer line unless more than one screen line is
used per printer line.
The use of printer "windows" mapped to the screen, where they can be written
to at will, forms the basis for drivers to access printer graphics. The same
applies to 32 wide screens, so printer drivers should work in both modes.
Experience shows that 64 wide mode has no advantage over 32 wide when it comes
to "windowing" and desk-top-publishing unless larger than screen windows are
required, and tiling is not an acceptable option.
The Devil -may-Care Zone
Those who are somewhat -daring use programs written for them, or a cartridge.
Both save the user the trouble of learning how their programs work. What they do is
not in the general users' manual so there is a learning curve.
Going higher on the learning curve reveals new horizons to the adventurer —
high resolution color!
Because adventurers aren't that rare, it descends upon those of us with
programming skill, the responsibility to develop tools for them; as happened with
"64". The rest of this article will be devoted to describing that task, beginning
with historical considerations.
THE ORIGINAL CHEAP MONITOR
The console is the computer's interface with you, consisting of a keyboard and
monitor. Though usually a video tube, a printer was often used for logging status
messages (works for the TS2068 too, hint). For home computers, the most easily
obtained monitor is your TV set.
4
TV standards limit how good a picture you can get. Detail improves with
increased bandwith (the size of channel assigned by the FCC for broadcasting). For
black & white sets this came out to be about 400 pixels per scan line. This becomes
less for color TV because the channel has to be divided up among colors. Assignments
are unequal. Intensity gets the most, blue next, then red (oversimplified, but you
get the idea). If you look closely at the TV screen, you can see that red areas
smear out several pixels referred to intensity.
To make a remarkably affordable, <yet powerful home computer, Sinclair designed
a video driver with color TV as the monitor. With no monitor or printer to buy,
what a deal! As options, RCB monitors and a^special printer could be attached.
Anyone trying to display colors at too high a resolution has found out about
blurring. For acceptable results, more th^n one adjacent pixel must be assigned to
a color. A 4*4 checkerboard character gives much better results than an 8*8. An
RGB monitor does not have this limitation. .
There is a "bug" in the TS2068 caused by two crystals not being sjTichronized
with each other. Rippling color bands are caused by the phase difference.
ADVANCED COLOR MODE AND TV
At first, the advanced color scheme for the TS2068 is hard to understand.
Other Computers, with expensive monitors, have screen display formats tailored
for specific applications.
Those modes which are character oriented work the same as the TS2068.
Graphic modes are pixel oriented — e.g. each screen pixel has a number
associated with it. The number occupies a number of data bits called depth. One
byte can hold one pixel of depth 8, two pixels of depth 4, etc. "TRUE COLOR" uses 24
bits, 8 for each of R, G & B.
As you can see, full screen color pictures have tremendous memory needs.
Within the memory restrictions of the TS2068, a remarkable compromise was made,
consistent with using TV as the monitor. There are two memory bytes for each byte
written to the screen, making pixel depth 16/8; a value which could provide four
colors on an IBM CGA adapter, but not the TS2068. It takes two bytes to display two
colored dashes of four pixels. One in D_FILE1, a nibble of INK followed by a nibble
of PAPER set up in eidvance to make two dashes, and one in D_FILE2 to define 2
colors. Using four pixels per color does away with smear, but allows only 64 dashes
per line.
Colored dashes on screen can be combined in various ways to obtain more
colors, but only one technique is sufficient. Two vertically alligned dashes blend
their colors as viewed, so two dashes can define 36 colors instead of just 8. (64
combinations, but many are reverse order duplicates.)
From here on, a colored vertical dash pair is what we are talking about when
we say "bixel", appropriate because bixels (pairs) always come in pairs.
The bytes defining them also come in pairs. We will call the first byte
scan#0 and the second scan#l because that is how they will be used. ScanO defines
the upper half colors of both bixels. The lower halves are colored by the second
byte. These are written to D_FILE2. D_FILE1 was prepared in advance by filling the
image frame with 00001111 to make dashes.
scan#0 scan#l bixfels on screen
OOaaaccc .... afiaacccc ....
OObbbddd . . . .bbbbdddd. . . .
A bixels file can be of any size. It can be panned if larger than the Screen.
For the moment let's consider a file (picture) that fills the top half of thfe
screen. It will be 64 bixels wide by 48 high and consist of 3,072 bytes.
Even bytes go to even scan lines, odd to odd. 32 byte pairs are written
before going on to the next scan line pair. An algorithm for computing sequential
addresses (starting at 24576) is simple and easily written.
5
THE BIXEL COLOR CHART
H\L
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0
BLK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
BLU
10
11
12
13
14
15
2
RED
19
20
21
22
23
3
MAG
28
29
30
31
4
^LICAT]
...
CRN
37
38
39
5
( DUi
)
CYA
46
47
6
YEL
55
7
WHT
This table shows all possible bixel colors and labels which could be used to
decribe them. The area [...] holds duplicates of colors to the upper right. There
are 36 different, ignoring the possible use of Bright. (If used, both Bright and
Flash must apply to both bixels of a pair. They won't be used here.)
REMAPPING MEMORY
Advanced video uses D_FILE2 in CHUNK3. On startup, BASIC overlaps (shadows)
D_FILE2. BASIC is allocated 38,655 bytes. This drops to 31,743 when using advanced
video modes. Running in Spectrum mode allows even larger programs to run. Little
effort has been spent writing programs that use overlays and/or bank switching to
let large programs make better use of memory, Oliger DOS makes overlays relatively
easy, so somebody out there, get on the ball.
BASIC conflicts with the SCLD video processor when shadowing CHUNK3 (Spectrum
even more so). Everything slows down, BASIC runs faster when memory is remapped
even when advanced modes aren't being used. Contrary to what the tech manual
implies, use shadowing only when you really must have that last piece of memory.
ALWAYS use remapped mempry If you cein.
The routines in EXROM for remapping memory have some problems, but can be
used with sufficient care. There are errors in the jump and fix tables which you
don't normally bump in to. A much simplified version of the access routine in the
tech manual is available. Once called, there is seldom any reason to reverse it
An interesting possibility for storing machine code exists when A_FILE1(768)
and/or A_FILE2(768) are not being used for video.
The most important thing to remember about video modes is that there is
absolutely no functional connection between memory mapping and video modes. You can
change video modes any time you please without crashing anything. Of course, if
memory has not been remapped first, there are going to be some awfully wierd looking
screens. Once memory has been remapped, BASIC is all you need to run your video
mode applications.
BIXEL FILE STRUCTURE
Graphic files usually have a header defining what they are to interpreters
that handle many file types. Programs expecting only one file type can dispense
with a self defining header in some cases but other progriuns cannot.
6
The first byte of the file tells the interpreter something. It may not be
enough, but it's a start. The first byte of a bixel on screen is OOpppiii, followed
by OOPPPIII.
Notice that the first two bits, which normally represent FLASH and BRIQIT
respectively can be used for control purposes in a file without displacing data.
Setting bit 6 high could signify the start of a row. Setting bits 6 and 7 high
could signify the end-of file (EOF). Reading through a file, you can count the
columns and rows for the file and store them. If the file is bigger than the frame,
a common default is to display the upper left corner of the picture, and enable a
panning utility.
At least two more bits are available for control because bytes always come in
pairs. Odd numbered bytes could have bit 6 set for EOF instead of the even byte bit
7. Then all characters would pass a bit 7 filter, but all values from 0 through 63
represent valid data, so ASCII control characters would be present. This would pose
a problem for modem transmission of files.
Borrowing a technique from RLE, we might add 32 to all data to avoid having to
deal with control codes. Valid data bytes would then be from 32 to 95. It looks
like we have a winner! Using a header, we encode our values instead of RLE pixel
counts. Values greater than 95 cannot represent valid data, so they can be used to
insert special bytes into the data stream. A file identifier of "ts" (116,115) is
nice. "Beyond that, ASCII command codes can serve to delimit rows and provide EOF.
VIDEO EDITORS
Making a cursor visible on a full color screen in advanced video mode is not
as easy as it sounds. Blinking is the only sure way. The trick is how to make only
one bixel blink instead of two. The answer is to operate the blink from the editor,
not the SCLD. The blink must be three steps, true color, all white, all black and
repeat .
Somewhere on screen should appear a pallet of all 36 colors, so the cursor can •>
be used to select a color for painting with the press of a button.
When not selecting, the cursor position color should show on the pallet.
Somewhere on screen should appear the file array coordinates of the upper left
corner of the viewing freune.
Command buttons should be available to pan the image in the duplicate color
area of the pallet display.
Other functions are best handled using the keyboard.
HOR VER
000 000
COLOR EDITOR
PAN PALLET
7
CATBRXNG TO THE SINCLAIR
COMMUNITY IN NORTH AMERICA
W± "tin -fcwo ± oczsL-tz ± on.s -to s^arv^
yoxiar S i rxo X a± ar , T ± iti^3c — S ± ncz X ^ ± r oir
Camt>ir± dgret cromE^TJi-fcetxr . To ot>izQ.xrx oulxt
zn^wes-t: ost-taXoor foxr tln^ QL , Z88 ,
TS2068, oar otlni^ar Sin.oXQ.±ar
ma.olrx±rx€^ss , £>Xea.se s^ncX Xeg-^X
s±2z:6, s^X f — SLca.<3Lar^ss^c3l ^ s ti aLmE>^cX
^rxv^ X OE>^ "to on.€^ of -t lnei two X i stu^ca.
X oo^-t i onjs ^ oar £>lrxoxii6 ( &-fjr&:rx±jrL^& oar
weelc^nds ) -tlrxeft ' ra.TJLmfc>et ar s v^an
t>^X ow . R^o^ra.'t Xy ^ cXtjl^ -to ± no ar^aas ± rxg-
ca.ema.nca. on yoxa.ar E>aiar-t we Irxsive acaLcXeca.
memoary, o^]z>Xe stncX some oof -t:w<a.are
f oar 'tln.e Z 8 8 . We lra.a.ve X>aro\a.crl:a.-t: t>a.crlc:
some oXca f a. vo ar ± "t: e s f o ar tzlrxe
TS 2 O 6 8 , SLTxc^L lra.a.ve aicXcaeca. <3[\a.i"t:e e.
l3 X -t "to oiaar QL i nven "t o ary . F'oar "fclrae
QX. we now oaar ar^r tla-e f ulX X XXne of
so f "trwo-are amca. Ina-arca-waare f arom •□rOCHBN'
MSZ^Z SOFTWARE , DI LWYN JONES
COMI*XJTINrG^ AJNTO ID I GI TAX. r>REC I S I ON .
WE ALSO CAP]RY m>TO;>yAHig; P'^QH jMJ^R^lC^E?
MECHAlSr I C AL AFF* I NX T Y
5X3 EAST MAIN ST.
F»ERXJ, IN 4 69*7 0
aX'Z — 4-73 — 803X
oar
MECHAN I CAL AFF* INI T Y
52 3 X WILTON WOOD CT .
INOIANAFOLIS , IN 46254
3XV— 23X— 6002
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF SINCLAIR USERS SUPPORTING THE
SINCLAIR MACHINES AND VENDORS. IF THERE IS A NEW PRODUCT YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR PERHAPS WE CAN BE OF HELP. WE JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER
THE MORE WE SERVE YOU AND LEARN!
A SCREEN DUMP PROGRAM
Basil Wentworth *
1413 El 1 iston Drive
B 1 oomington, IN 47401
Here is a screen dump program that is fairly simple, and offers
a bit of flexibility. It is configured for the Oliger 2068
interface, and the CITIZEN MSP-10 printer. I expect that other
printers would work with the program, as I believe that the MSP
point-graphic printing system is fairly standard.
To check whether your printer can use this program, RUN the
printer compatibility test program shown. Again, line 100 is for
the Oliger interface. For other interfaces, you should be able
to make an adaptation. The two POKEs in line 100 tell the
printer to interpret the (CHR$ 27) as an ESC command, rather
than to print the corresponding character. Incidentally, if you
want to LLIST the program, you'll have to undo these POKEs by
repeating LET/p=o/g, or you' 1 1 get some interesting (and not
very helpful) interpretations of the keywords.
If the compatibility test program gives a printout like that
shown, you're in business.
The COPY program is a hybrid: part BASIC and part machine code.
The CLEAR command in line 9110 ensures that the next variable
defined (in this case, B$) will be at the beginning of the VARS
area of memory, where you'll know how to find it. Line 9150 and
the following DATA lines fill the first 65 characters of B$ with
the machine code you will need.
As you may remember, the memory from 16384 to 22527 holds screen
display information. The machine code program converts this
information into a form that the computer needs for dot-matrix
printing, and plugs it into the latter bytes of B$. '
The program as shown prints the top 22 lines of the screen,
which comprise all of the dis.play except the two "report" lines
at the bottom. If you want to LPRINT less than the entire
display, you can change line 9290. The width of the print-out
can be changed by varying the control character in line 9370,
with results as shown in the figure. Note that the height of the^
print-out (i.e. the rate at which the printer eats paper) does/
not change, so the shape of the picture will be different. ♦
One caution: be careful that you do not erase the screen drawing
when you activate the COPY command (GO TO 9200). One way to
avoid this problem would be to SCREEN* SAVE the picture you
want, and then recall it after you have LOADed the COPY program,
as prompted in line 20.
9
10 PRINT " " ; FLASH
1;"D0 NOT USE RUN!!"; FLASH 0
20 PRINT '''"Clear the screen
, generate the figure desired,
and GO TO 9200"
8900 STOP
9000 REM SAVE
9010 SAVE /"COPY" LINE 9100
9020 VERIFY /"COPY"
9030 BEEP .3,12: BEEP 1,12
9040 STOP
9100 REM INITIALIZE
9110 CLEAR : DIM B$(325)
9120 PRINT '»"" "; FLASH
1;"D0 NOT USE RUN!!"; FLASH 0
9130 PRINT "" Be with you a
s soon as"*" initiaLlzing i
s done"
9140 RESTORE
9150 FOR F^l TO 65: READ N: LET
B$(F)=CHR$ N: NEXT F
9161 DATA 17, 31,118, 14, 32,
33, 0, 64
9162 DATA 0, 6, 4, 62, 0,2
03,126, 40
9163 DATA 1, 60, 5, 40, 5,2
03, 39, 36
9164 DATA 24,243, 18, 19, 58,2
36, 117, 214
9165 DATA 8, 50,236,117,254,
62, 40, 9
9166 DATA 213, 17, 0, 3,237,
82,209, 24
9167 DATA 216, 13,200,213, 17,2
55, 2,237
9168 DATA 82,209, 62,126, 50,
52,109, 24
9169 DATA 200 ' ^-
9170 LET /p^o/g:"" POKE 23300,60:
POKE 23301,3
9180 GO TO 1
9200>REM COPY
9210 LET A=6+PEEK 23627+256*PEEK
23628
9230 LET B=A+65: LET M=INT (B/25
6) : LET L=B-256*M
9240 LET B$(2)=CHR$ L: LET B$(3)
=CHR$ M
9250 LET B=A+14: LET M=INT (B/25
6) : LET L=B-256*M
9260 LET B$(30)=CHR$ L: LET B$(3
1)=CHR$ M
9270 LET B$(35 TO 36)=B$(30 TO 3
1 )
9280 LET B$(62 TO 63)=B$(30 TO 3
1)
9290 FOR L=l TO 22
9295 REM can be varied, to prin
t less 1 ines
9300 IF L<9 THEN LET start=16352
+ L*32
9310 IF L>8 AND L<17 THEN LET st
art=18400+32* (L-8)
9320 IF L>16 THEN LET start=2044
8+32*(L-16)
9330 FOR F=l TO 2
9340 LET B*(8)=CHR$ INT (start/2
56)
9350 LET B$(7)=CHR$ (start-256*C
ODE B$(8) )
9360 RANDOMIZE USR A: LET B$(15)
=CHR$ 126
9370 LPRINT CHR$ 27;"A";CHR$ 4;C
HR$ 27;"K";CHR$ 0;CHR$ 1;B$(66 T
G )
9380 REM "K" for single density
; "L" for double density; "Y" fo
r high-speed double density; "Z"
for quadruple density
9390 LET start=start+1024
9400 NEXT F
9410 NEXT L
9420 LPRINT CHR$ 27; "A"
9430 BEEP .3,12: BEEP 1,12
2068 screen dump program; MSP-10 printer, Oliger interface
1 0
. (5
Single Density: "K»» in line 9370
Double Density: "L" in line 9370
High-speed Doub 1 e. Dens i ty :
in line '9:^70
Quadruple Density: "Z" in line 9370
100 LET /p=o/g: POKE 23300,60;
POKE 23301,3
150 LET A$=""
200 FOR F=l TO 5: LET A$=A$+CHR
$ 15: NEXT F
250 FOR F=l TO 5: LET A$=A$+CHR
$ 240: NEXT F
300 LET A$=:A$ + A$
310 LET A$=A$+A$
320 LET A$=A$+A$
500 LPRINT CHR$ 27;»»L";CHR$ 80;
CHR$ 0;A$
TORONTO TIMEX-SIHCLAIR USERS CLUB
14 tIClOn CtT. SCAlBOtOVGH. OR. HIK 2T1
(416) 751-7559
JEFF TAYLOR
tVlTOn SINC-LINK
335-75 Lesonvood Dr. Islington. Ont. H9A 4L3
(416) 244-8583
Test for printer compatibility
should give the following
pattern :
■W.V.W
PRINT FACTORY® graphics
More Pics & Lower Prices!!
T^ll^gtUnit^ fUUptUpJtft J^Bf^^^jt
Mmtk/Bcyu Fuginy Tmmmhi Fmmm
WofiMfli/OiHs THuisportatioti Mai* Fmmm
Difltind Mtoob Sports Tunny
Computers Animals
^^^^^ Holidays ZodiaoSlifis
^^mT Z^Ui Food Holidays
<3PP ^^^^^ TransportatlcMi
Xmas
m/'J XEW COLLECTIONS!] ^
rutmy
Difitlsad Mlso. WomWOirb Animals
MalaFaoas Xmas
Sports Transportation
Fomala Faoas Computars
Holidays
(Kmt ISOpios/oolMlten - 1077piosindl!
Only 97 S$ ppd for aaoh ooUaotioni
AvailaMa on tapa or 5 1/4" D6DD LARKEN
or OLIOER disk - plaasa spadf y*
Dl Sand chack or monmy ordor ten lal
John MoNOohaal, 1710 Palmar Or,
Laramia^WY 82070
ROM BYI>ASS CIRCUIT
OEscR I E>T loisr
This board bypasses 0-16k of the HOME bank and 0-8k of the
EXROM bank. By providing all 16 bits of address for the bypass
"EXROM", this bank is expanded to 64k.
"EXROM" from 0-32k can be EPROM or battery backed SRAM, from
32-64k it is volatile SRAM.
"HOME ROM" can be a single 16k *EPROM or a pair of battery
backed 8k SRAMS .
Both internal ROMs are part of LOCAL memory (managed by the
SOLD). Even though BYPASS replaces LOCAL, it is not true
expansion memory. It remains "LOCAL" because the SOLD is still
managing its use, not a bank switching controller (BSC). It is
important to remember that true expansion memory banks have more
priority than local, including bypass.
Expansion banks from 0 through 255 can be used. There are no
"missing" banks — for example, if an expansion bank #254 was
present and active, it would take the place of local EXROM.
Bank #0 shadows DOCK (Cartridge slot).
Bank #255 (shadowing HOME) is a special case, being active on
power-up .
Expansion banks exert authority by driving BE low, so this
signal is intercepted by the bypass board before passing it
through to the TS2068 SLD. The BE signal to the TS2068 is also
driven low when either bypass memory is active so it can replace
LOCAL TS2068 ROMs. This is the job of U4A & U4B.
U4C turns off bypass memory when an expansion bank is active,
when a refresh cycle is in process, and to initialize it at power-
up.
SOLD output signals ROMCS and EXROM enable HOME ROM and EXROM
respectively. ROMCS is not available at the rear connector so it
must be brought out on an unassigned pin location (A5). Now the
SCLD can select bypass memory banks.
Now things get interesting. When the SCLD senses BE low, it
turns off local memory selection including ROMCS and EXROM. If
nothing else is done, this de-selects bypass memory and BE goes
high again, causing oscillation.
The function of the two flip-flop latches is to remember the
memory selection during one instruction, and then reset in
preparation for the next. This solves the oscillation problem.
Each flip-flop is a "data"(D) type with "set"(S) and "reset"(R)
inputs. Set and reset are active low. Data is latched to output
(Q) on the rising edge of the clock signal.
Because data is hard wired low, this is the same as a reset.
It happens after a memory cycle is completed and the signal MREQ
returns high.
A flip-flop is set whenever a memory cycle begins while local
ROM is enabled by the SCLD. Note that it will be immediately '/
reset if an expansion bank is active.
For the Z80 CPU the address and Ml signal are put on the bus
by the rising edge of T-STATE #1' (Tlup). MREQ appears on the bus
after Tldn.
13
In between Z80 Tlup and Tldn the SCLD has three additional
transitions because its clock frequency is four times that of the
Z80 in order to be fast enough to run video. This allows the SCLD
to put the local bank select signal ROMCS or EXROM on the bus
before Tldn (and MREQ),
Many transient and special conditions like DMA operation can
occur. This design is compatible with interrupt protocols, DMA,
external bus masters, and memory expansion.
"DEAF" memory cannot take data off the bus. "DUMB" cannot
put data on the bus. If two memory banks are enabled at the same
time, all but one must be "DUMB".
ROM is "DEAF" by nature, so making RAM "DEAF" makes it look
like ROM to the computer.
Making bypass memory "DUMB" allows writing to it for purposes
of modification or booting. Though this design uses physical
switches, I/O registers could be used so you can re-boot or edit
using software in place of operator intervention.
Copying internal ROM to the bypass board while it is
inactive, then turning the. computer off and the bypass board to
active is a good test. If everything is working properly, you
will not be able to see any difference — not very useful, but
reassuring .
It is hard to describe the power the bypass board gives you.
The deliberate barriers put into ROM code can be removed so the
TS2068 can run as originally advertised, including DOS.
DOS, Microdrive, or any other mass-storage system can be run
from EXROM (as tape already is), using up to 32k of code and 32k
of buffer space. More device drivers can be accommodated. Unused
entries in the function dispatcher are available for assignment.
With care, IBM clone controllers for floppy and hard drives can be
run on the expansion bus (EBU).
With an expansion bus adapter, and bank switching controller
to remove memory size barriers, CGA and even VGA monitors can be
attached to a "lowly?" TS2068.
(C)1992 The WIDJUP Co.
MA CJt ffSysft'/n s, JJ. T. C.
H<mteofthe2pound.2MbPtrion<dAMtutanti'<lapl(v
Lee Hickenlooper
DirectDT
The Personal Aasi^ant^
TOLL FREE: 800 / 397-0855
Voice: 801 / 575-8855 Fax: 801 / 364-6050
1207 South State Street Salt Lake City, Utah • 841111
14
CAD#5BE Listing, Oliger/EPSON 6/11/92
11 GO TO 1100
12 PRINT AT 21,7;" PRESS AITY KEY RETURN
998 RETURN
999 DATA "p" , " 1280" , "4543" . "p" , "26739" , "4543" , " 1" , "4543" , "4543"
, "LLIST#5" , "512" , " "
1000 DATA 33,83,92,94,35,86,235.43,43, l,q,r, 205, 187, 18,201
1001 RESTORE 1000; FOR n=23706 TO 23721: READ byte: POKE n.byte:
NEXT n
1002 RANDOMIZE USR 23706
1003 RETURN
1009 CLS : PRINT '" CURRENT ASSIGt^MENTS "'"Chan Addr OUTPUT
INPUT DEVICE "
1010 LET b=PEEK 23631+256*PEEK 23632: LET a=PEEK 23635+256*PEEK
23636: LET k=l: REM CHANS, PROG
1011 PRINT " ";k;TAB 5;b;TAB 11; PEEK b+256*PEEK Cb+1>;TAB 18;: L
ET b=b+2
1012 PRINT PEEK b+256*PEEK <b+l);TAB 25;: LET b=b+2
1013 LET dv=PEEK b: PRINT CHR$ dv: LET b=b+l: IF dv>48 AND dv<58
THEN GO TO 1017
1014 IF PEEK b=128 THEN GO TO 1016
1015 LET k=k+l: GO TO 1011
1016 PRINT "EOT " ; b; " BASIC @ ";a: LET bb=b: RETURN
1017 FOR n=b TO b+9: PRINT INK 1 ; CHRS PEEK n; : NEXT n: LET b=b
+ 10
1018 LET len=PEEK b+256*PEEK Cb+1): LET b=b+2
1019 PRINT " Data & Buffer ";len: LET b=b+len: GO TO 1014
1100 RESTORE 999: DIM y$(12,10): FOR n=l TO 12: READ 1$: LET y$ <
n>=IS: NEXT n: LET J=l
1102 GO SUB 1009
1103 IF a=26710 THEN PRINT ''" This is the default setup for C
HANNELS after POVER-UP or NEW.": GO SUB 12: PAUSE 0: GO TO 1108
1104 IF a=27253 THEN PRINT •'" The correct CHANNELS setup has a
Iready been installed.": GO SUB 12: PAUSE 0
1105 PRINT AT 21,3;" CREATING LLIST#5 ": GO TO 2032
1107 PRINT '" AN INCOMPATIBLE CHANNEL SET IS PRESENT, IN ORDER
TO RUN THIS PROGRAM, EITHER CYCLE POWER OR EXECUTE ""NEW"".
THEN RELOAD, " : STOP
1108 PRINT AT 21,3;" CREATING NEV CHANNELS "
1109 LET s=0: LET w=4543: LET file=0: LET IS=y$(j): LET J=J+1: I
F ISC1)=" " THEN GO TO 1150
1110 LET n=CODE 1$: LET n=n-(32 AND n>96): IF n>90 THEN GO TO 1
109
1111 IF n>63 THEN GO TO 1115: REM alphabetic
1112 IF n>48 AND n<58 THEN GO TO 1114: REM numeric
1114 LET file=l
1115 LET J$=CHR$ n
1117 LET I$=y$(j): LET J=j+1
1118 LET nn=VAL 1$
1120 LET IS=y$(j>: LET j=j+l •
1121 LET 111= VAL 1$
1123 IF NOT file THEN GO TO 1180
1125 LET I$=y$<j): LET J=j+1: LET J$=J$<1)+I$
1127 LET IS=y$(j): LET j=J+l • .
1129 LET ss=256*INT ((VAL I$-l ) /256 ) +256 ^
1130 LET s=21+ss
1131 LET r=INT (s/256): LET q=s-256*r
1133 GO SUB 1000
16
1135 LET insb=INT (iin/256): LET l^b=nn-256*iQsb: POKE bb, Isb: POKE
bb+l.msb: LET bb=bb+2
1136 LET iiisb=I5rT (m/256) : LET lsb=m-256*insb: POKE bb, Isb: POKE b
b+l,msb: LET bb=bb+2
1137 FOR f=0 TO 10: POKE f +bb, CODE J$<f+1): NEXT f: LET bb=bb+ll
1138 LET insb=INT ( (ss+4) /256) : LET lsb=ss->-4-256*insb: POKE bb, Isb
: POKE bb+l,m5b: LET bb=bb+2
1139 FOR f=bb TO bb+ss-1: POKE f,32: NEXT f
1140 GO TO 1108
1150 PRINT AT 21,3;" CREATING LLIST#5 GO TO 2020
1180 LET r=0: LET q=5 : GO SUB 1000: REM nonfile
1181 LET iosb=INT <nn/256) : LET lsb=nn-256*iBsb: POKE bb, Isb: POKE
bb+l.msb: LET bb=bb+2
1182 LET iiKb=INT (in/256): LET lsb=in-256*iiisb: POKE bb, Isb: POKE b
b+l.msb: LET bb=bb+2
1183 POKE bb,CODE JS: LET bb=bb+l
1184 GO TO 1140
2000 DATA BA, AN, 0, 167, AN, 0, NNA, 117, 104, AB, RNZ, 0, 0, CP, 165, JRC, 10,
SUB, 165.CP,38, JRZ, 1 14 , CALL , 69 , 7 , RET
2001 DATA CP, 144, JRC, 4, 198, 49, JR, 82, CP, 128, JRC, 4, 198, 97, JR, 74 , CP
,32, JRNC,42,CP, 12, JRNZ, 12, 198, 110, 253, 203, 48, 86, JRZ, -36, SUB, 59, J
R, 54
2002 REM CODES
2003 DATA CP , 13 , JRZ , 109 , CP , 6 , 202 , 63 , 105 , CP, 16 , RC, CP, 24 , RNC, CP, 22
, AN, 1 , JRC. 1, 60, NNA, 117, 104, 201
2004 DATA CP , 58 , JRZ , 44 , CP , 123 , J RC, 20 , 203 , 7 1 , JRZ , -78 , 253 , 203 , 48 ,
86, JRNZ, 4, CP, 123, JRNC, -88, CP, 127 , JRNZ , 2 , SUB, 63
2005 REM OUT_^CHAR
2006 DATA 79, AN, 10, CP, 74, 212, NEV, LINE, 121, CALL, lOA, lOB, ANN, CUR, S
OR, 60, NNA, CUR, SOR, RET
2007 REM STYLE
2008 DATA 55 , JRC, 6 , CP, 58 , JRZ , -27, JR, -123 , 253 , 203 , 46 , 86 , 245 , 204 , N
EV, LINE, 241, CP, 38, JRZ, -15
2010 DATA PSHH,33, 106, 105 , PSHB, BN, 4 , 126, CALL, OUT, CHAR, 35, DJN2, -7
, POPB, POPH, RET
2011 REM NEV_LINE
2012 DATA AN, 13, CALL, lOA, lOB, AN, 10, CALL, lOA, lOB, AN, 10, NNA, CUR, SO
R, 167, RZ, PSHB, BA, AN, 32, CALL, lOA, lOB, DJNZ, -7, POPB, RET
2013 REM PRINT_COMMA
2014 DATA CALL, 84, 105,230, 15,47, 198, 17, BA, AN, 32 , CALL, OUT, CHAR, CA
LL, 84, 105, RZ, DJNZ, -11, RET, ANN, MAR, GIN, PSHB, BA, ANN, CUR, SOR, 144, PO
PB,RET ^
2015 REM TAB/ AT
2017 DATA 229,33,104,105,229,42,79,104,233,225,201
2018 DATA 32,32,32,58
2020 LET MAR=46: LET GIN=105: LET PRT=71: LET COM=105: LET 0UT=2
32: LET CHAR=104: LET CUR=234: LET SOR=104: LET I0A=95: LET IOB=
105: LET NEV=35: LET LINE=105
2021 LET DJNZ=16: LET JR=24: LET JRNZ=32: LET JRZ=40: LET JRNC=4
8: LET JRC=56
2022 LET BN=6: LET AN=62 : LET NNA=50: LET ANN=58: LET AB=120: LE
T BA=71
2023 LET CP=254: LET RET=201: LET RNZ=192: LET RZ=200: LET RNC=2
08: LET RC=216: LET CALL=205: LET SUB=214
2024 LET PSHB=197: LET P0PB=193: LET PSHH=229: LET P0PH=225
2025 RESTORE 2000: FOR N=26739 TO 26989: READ BYTE: POKE N, BYTE:
NEXT N
2030 POKE 23282,21: POKE 23584,26 .
2032 CLS : GO SUB 1009: PRINT This arrangement provides :•••'" P
RINT #4 3040 pr inter , " "* LPRINT .#5 Formatted pr int ing, " • "LL 1ST
#5 Formatted list ings, "MEMORY 256 bytes (2 26995,"
2033 PRINT '"See documentation rfor •"•LLIST#5'"* . •*
2035 GO SUB 12: PAUSE 0
2036 LOAD /" INTFC_BE"
2040 STOP
9990 POKE 26876,167
9991 INPUT "Date? ";i$: LPRINT ••I,N";CHR$ 6;: LPRINT #5'"CAD#5BE
Listing, Oliger/EPSON ";iS'': LLIST #5: LPRINT "ZD";CHR$ 12;: ST
OP
9999 SAVE //"CAD#5BE" LINE 1100
disc drives
SALES • DATA RECOVERY • REPAIR
I . OmPLBW DfSC DRlVBSBRVtCB~^
Exchange Programs for Upgrades and Maintenance
ibiTECHNOLOGIES, INC, (805)529-0908
Order Desk: (800) 688-0908 • Fax: (805) 529-7712
5105 Maureen Lane • Moorpark, California 93021
BACK ISSUES OF UPDATE
WE STILL HAVE SETS OF BACK ISSUES OF UPDATE MAGAZINE, BOTH
FOR THE YEARS THAT BILL JONES AND THE DAVIS FAMILY HAVE
PUBLISHED THE MAGAZINE. WHEN THESE ISSUES ARE GONE THAT WILL BE
ALL, AS WE WILL NOT BE DOING REPRINTS. THERE IS TOO MUCH TIME
INVOLVED IN REPRINTING SINGLE ISSUES (IT TAKES ABOUT 3 HOURS
CONSERVATIVELY TO DO A SINGLE ISSUE). THIS IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE
FOR US. THIS MEANS THAT WHEN THE 40 FULL SETS AND 124 ODD SINGLE
ISSUES ARE GONE; THAT IS IT. ONLY NEW ISSUES AS -THEY COME OUT
WILL BE AVAILABLE. WE ALSO NEED THE SPACE AROUND THE HOUSE THAT
THESE BACK ISSUES TAKE UP. WE ARE CONTINUING THEM ON SALE
THROUGH CHRISTMAS, TILL THEY ARE GONE. IF YOU WANT THEM, PLEASE
ORDER IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO INSURE THAT YOU GET ISSUES THAT YOU
WANT. THEY ARE $16.00 US$ FOR 4 ISSUES IN THE US AND ADD $3.00
POSTAGE OUTSIDE THE USA. FOR A SINGLE ISSUE THE PRICE WILL BE
$4.50, AND ADD ONE DLLLAR OUTSIDE THE USA. FOREIGN POSTAGE COSTS
QUITE A BIT MORE THAN IN THE US. SIX YEARS OF SINCLAIR NEWS AND
PROGRAMS ARE CONTAINED IN THESE PAGES, SO GET THEM WHILE THEY
ARE BOTH HOT AND. AVAILABLE!
1 &
TMX Disk Operating System
Disk Boot Program
Public Domain
Informed by: A. Hradesky
Original Author: Unkown
There are many different types of disk operaUng systems (DOS) for the TIMEXsinclair 2068 computer. Ramex,
Oilger, Aerco, and Larken all come to mind, however, there is one tliat stands out on its own as the official
TIMEX DOS (tided TOS for the TIMEX Operating System) which is perhaps the finest design of an operating
system offered for any 8-bit computer. Except for the use of an NMI (non-maskable interupt) save routine, TOS
allows full use of direct sector read/write and other advanced features. TOS also allows the use of an automatic
load routine on power up or reset. To achieve this,, the program's name must be ^\XtdBoot. Below is just such a
program. It will catalog the current drive in use. Use the 6 and 7 arrow (do not use the shift keys) keys to move
a small marker (<) up and down to select your program. Once selected, hit the Enter Key to execute your
preference. This Boot program also allows the downward movement through multiple sub-diiectorids.
10 REM SAVE *"STARr' LINE 10
15 BORDER 1: PAPER 7: INK 2 . •
20 OVER 0: CLS
30LETCURSOR=7
40 PRINT AT 1,0;
50 CAT *
60 PRINT AT CURSOR,8;"<"
70 IF INKEY$=aiR$ 54 AND SCREENS (CURSOR+l,0)o" " THEN PRINT AT CURSOR,8;" ": LET
CURSOR=CURSOR+l-(CmSOR=20)
80 IF INEKY$=CHR$ 55 AND SCREENS (CURSOR-l,8)=" " THEN PRINT AT
CURSOR,8;" ": LET CURSOR=CURSOR-l+(CURSOR=l)
90 IF 1NKEY$=CHR$ 13 THEN GO TO 110
100 GO TO 60
1 1 0 LET A$="": FOR 1=0 TO 7
120 IF SCREENS (CURSOR,I)o'' " THEN LET AS=AS+SCREENS (CURSOR,I)
130 NEXT I
140 LET B$="": FOR 1=9 TO 1 1
150 LET BS«B$+SCREEN$ (CURSOR,!)
160 NEXT I
1 70 IF B$="DIR" THEN GO TO * AS: GO TO 10
180 IF B$="MC " THEN LET A$=AS+" J^C": LOAD *ASCODE : STOP
I90IFB$=" "THEN LOAD *A$
200 IF B$="SCR" THEN LET A$=A$+".SCR": LOAD ♦ASSCREENS : STOP
210 LET A$=A$+"."+B$: LOAD *A$
Remember, this program is for the TMX operating system (this includes the FDD-3000 and the Zebra drives).
Enjoy...
HAG
■ffCRPWSES
WE CERTAINLY DO! If you were a subscriber
to our Hionihly flyers you would be one of
the first to know about all of tlie new and
exciting software and hardware that we
cowie across. Many new PD pro^rands, ^reat
finds in used hardware/software! AND, i»e
try to keep you up on what is happening in
the TS world. To subscribe, send 12 le^al
SASEs. For computer catalog send $4. Fbr
new 0ift catato^ send $4. Mail to:
RMG ENTERPRISES
f4<9-l/2 7th Street
Oregon City, OR 97045-2030
503/655-7484 FAX: 503/655-4116
S\ipports TSers!
EXI>LORINO NEW ENVIRONMENTS
Bob Hartung, 2416 N. County Line Road, Huntertown, IN 46748
ZX/SPECTRUM EMULATION
In the July UPDATE Peter Hale
reported on three emulators for Sinclair
computers and included letters from their
developer, Carlo Delhez. The three
described emulate the ZX81 and Spectrum
on the QL and the ZX81 on a PC.
In early August one of the deputies
at the sheriff department where I am
chaplain was showing me a CD-ROM he had
just acquired for his PC. Since the
first computer he had ever owned was a
ZX81, he brought up a ZX81 to PC emulator
he had found on his disk. Then a couple
weeks later the head of the computer
science department at the school where my
brother teaches gave me a copy of a Spec-
trum to PC emulator he had downloaded
from a BBS to which he subscribes. Since
neither of these programs showed any
credits I have no way of knowing whether
they are the work of Carlo Delhez or not.
Even on my relatively-slow 286-12 PC
clone the Spectrum emulation is almost as
fast as the Spectrum ROM on my TS2068.
All commands except those intended for
peripherals seem to function as they
should. It gives excellent resolution
and color on my VGA monitor and enables
state (snapshot) saves/loads to/from my
hard drive as well as the floppy drives.
The system and ROM addresses are in the
same virtual memory locations as in the
Spectrum memory map so Z80 machine code
and calls to ROM routines seem to work OK
with it, including a copy of Manic Miner
that was part of the BBS SW package.
On the down side, the package did
not include any SW for emulating or
translating the LPRINT, LLIST, or COPY
commands so they can be recognized by the
PC printer driver and IF. In his letters
to Peter Hale, Carlo Delhez suggests that
a serial IF card might be the best way to
do this but indicated he probably would
not be offering one.
QL SUBDIRECTORIES
In another area of exploration, I
have been comparing notes with Kenton
Garrett on ways to take best advantage
of the 3.2Mb capacity of the ED drives
he is using with his Gold Card. In effect
each ED disk may be used as a small hard
drive, especially if subdirectories are
set up in it.
I first tried using the DIR_USE com-
mand provided in the Toolkit III supple-
ment to Toolkit II. This allows a drive/
directory path to be pre-set, such as
DIR_USE flp2_quill_. As long as this
drive/path is in effect, the titles of
all files saved or loaded will automati-
cally be given a prefix of the sub-
directory name? and all directories will
display only those titles having that
prefix. This works fine for SuperBasic
files, for loading in files from the
PSION programs such as QUILL, and when
the "?" is keyed for a directory display.
However, PSION data files are corrupted
when saved under DIR_USE. PROG_USE and
DATA_USE will not work here either.
Since I only have a Trump Card, I
then tried using a new ROM chip called
Flp-Level-2 that Kenton obtained for me
through Merz Software in Germany. In it
Jochen Hassler has adapted for the Trump
Card many of the functions Tony Tebby
wrote for the Gold Card ROM as well as
those found on the Trump Card 1.32 and
1.37 ROMs. Because of Trump Card
hardware limitations, neither it nor the
TC 1.32/TC 1.37 ROMs enable the HD and ED
densities provided by Gold Card, but they
all allow the timing and stepping para-
meters to be set so as to take best
advantage of newer and faster drives.
An ATR_DEV function allows direct
data transfer between IBM (and Atari) and
QL disks, but on my 5 1/4" 80-track
drives I cannot format disks that my PC
drives will accept, even in 40-track for-
mat (which is also the case when using
double-step mode in PC Conqueror). The
MAKE_DIR function makes it possible to
create true subdirectories but there is
no corresponding DIR_USE nor the DEV_USE
set of commands as provided on the Gold
Card ROM to pre-define drive/ directory
paths. Because of this, subdirectories
may not be used with this or the TC 1.32/
1.37 ROMs for programs such as QUILL,
ABACUS, etc. which limit file-title input
to no more than eight characters.
What to do? Actually, as long as
file titles on a disk do not duplicate
one another, any disk may be fille,d with
21
all kinds of programs and data. By simply
giving each of the respective boot
routines its own distinctive title, I
have all four of the PSION programs plus
several other utility programs on one DD
disk where one keystroke can call up the
one selected from a simple menu as in the
listing given below. They may all use the
same printer_dat file, or else by giving
each of several versions of this file its
own distinctive title, then inserting a
line such as COPY f lp1_newname_dat TO
RAM1_printer_dat ahead of the EXEC line
in each boot routine, each program will
have its own set of printer data to use.
If RAMI is to be accessed for printer_dat
CONFIG_BAS must be used to re-direct each
program to look there for system files.
The menu as given may be copied up
to 26 times on a disk, with the first
copy as BOOT, then succeeding copies as
Bboot, Cboot . . . Zboot, which would
provide for up to 936 titles to be
entered in the menu string definitions.
Actually, even an ED disk is unlikely to
require more than two or three such
menus. Put all programs with conflicting
files on separate disks. Toolkit II ED or
AUTO 1,1 or EDIT (line no.) may be usied
to define the titles of the routines
which load the respective programs.
Write a one-line EXEC routine for
any programs which require this command
to call them up and save these to the
disk also so they may be selected from
the menus. By keying uppercase B through
Z any of the menus may be loaded and
displayed and 0-9 or a-z (lowercase) may
then be keyed to select the desired
program. If uppercase A is keyed from
any menu it brings up the BOOT menu which
is also displayed upon a powerup or a
RESET with the menu disk in f Ipl .
BOOTmenu
1 mdrv$="1": FLP_USE flp: POKE_W 163976,
0: PAPER 0: PAPER #0;7: INK #0;0: MODE 4
; DIM o$(36,18): o$(1 )="QUItLboot"'
2 o$(2)="ABACUSboot"
3 o$(3)="ARCHIVEboot"
4 G$(4)="EASELboot"
5 o$(5)=""
6 o$(6)=""
7 0^(7)=""
8 o$(8)^""
9 o$(9 )="''
10 o$(10)=""
11 o$(11)=""
12 o$(12)=""
13 o$(13)=""
14 o$(14)=""
15 o$(15)=""
16 o$(16)=""
17 o$(17)=""
18 o$(18)=""
19 o$(19)=""
20 o$(20)=""
21 o$(21)=""
22 o$(22)=""
23 o$(23)=""
24 o$(24)=""
25 o$(25)=""
26 o$(26)=""
27 o$(27)=""
28 o$(28)=""
29 o$<29)=""
30 o$(30)=""
31 o$(31)=""
32 o$(32)=""
33 o$(33)=""
34 o$(34)="" -
35 o$(35)=""
36 o$(36)=""
50 FOR j=1 TO 36
60 AT j-1-18*(j>18),20*(j>18):PRINT CHR$
(j+47+39*(j>10));"=";o^(j)
70 END FOR j
80 PRINT #0;" Key: "'A-Z for other menus
0-9 or a-z to LOAD file"\" £ to set:"
90 slc=CODE (INKEY$): AT #0;1,12: PRINT
#0;DATE$;' ';DAy$: IF slc=0 THEN GO TO 9
0
100 IF sic > 64 AND sic < 91 THEN :
110 IF sic = 65 THEN LRUN "flp" & mdr
v$ & & "BOOT"
M0 LRUN "flp" & mdrv$ & "_" & CHR$(s
Ic) & "BOOT"
130 ENa IF
140 END IF
150 cLs m
160 IF slc=% THEN setdate: GO TO 80
170 slc=:slc-47-39*(sic>57)
180 IF sic < 0 OR sic > 3^ THEN GO TO 50
190 IF o$(&lc)-"" THEN GO TO 50
200 ld$="flp" & mdrv$ & "_" & 0$(slc): L
RUN ld$
2W DEFine PROCedure setdate
220 INPUT #0;'YeaT: ';yr;' Mo: ';mo;' Da
y: ' ;da; ' Hour: ';hr;' Min: '^mn;' Sec:
';sc
230 SDATE yr , mo ,da , hr , mn , sc
2m CLS #0
250 END DEFine setdate
^2
CABLE COLUMN
By Bill Cable
ARCHIVE SERIES
PART 10 : IF and ALL and MODE COMMANDS
The next two ARCHIVE commands to be Introduced are
the IF command and ALL command. Both have beginning
and ending statements like the WHILE command
discussed last time. We will also mention the MODE
command to illustrate useful control of the display screen.
We are working from the ARCHIVE command prompt (>),
still hoping to attract more neophytes before we tackle
formal ARCHIVE programming. We are doing complex
tasks by putting more than one command on a "line". The
cobn (:) is used to separate commands as we type them
In and then <ENTER> is pressed to execute the "line". I
call this Command Prompt Programming. They are
simpler than real programs created with the ARCHIVE
program editor that can be saved and loaded but powerful
enough to be very useful
PREPARATION
In the description below I will " Italic" what you should
type in to participate in the examples. The "line" to type in
may span several column lines. You must type everything
as one line up to the <ENTER> and then press the
ENTER key. On your screen it may or may not wrap
around to span more than one screen line. Take special
care to spot where spaces are. Putting in extra spaqes
usually will not cause problems but leaving a space out
will most likely result in an error. If you do get an error
after pressing <ENTER>, press the <F5> key to recall the
line and look it over carefully for mistakes. Correct
mistakes with the nonnal QL editing keys.
We will use the LOOK command on the GAZET_DBF
database supplied with ARCHIVE. Make sure you use a
copy and not your original. Start ARCHIVE (database)
and access GAZET as shown below :
I ook "{} gaze t "<ENTER> {}=device,mdv1_,flp1_, etc
print count 0 <ENTER> see how many countries
di spl ay<ENTER> display cunrent record
order pop;a<ENTER> order by population
MODE COMMAND
The MODE command allows for setting the screen display
with specific partitions or as one large shared area. Initially
you see the screen with 3 areas : Control, Display, and
Work. Pressing the <F2> key will toggle the Control area
in and out. The Control area is that area at the top which
names the commands and provides information. The
Display area is in the middle and is where output is
displayed. The Work area is where the ARCHIVE prompt
(>) waits for your input. By using the MODE command we
can join the Display and Work areas or have them
separate. Try the following and note where the ARCHIVE
prompt (>) is:
<F2> No Control area
<F2> Control area
MODE 0<enter> Display & Work joined
<F2> No Control area
<F2> Control area
MODE l<enter> Display an(^ Work apart
<F2> No Control area
You see that there are lots of possible ways to set up the
screen. We have left ourselves in MODE 1 so the Work
and Display areas are separate and the Control area is
removed. When running ARCHIVE programs we would
use MODE 0 since the Work area is not used so we don't
need to reserve space for it. For command Prompt
Programs as we will be using now, it is ^ little less
confusing if we keep the Work and Display are^s separate
so we use MODE 1. You can always get the* Control area
back by pressing the <F2> key to the ARCHIVE prompt.
This is all you will every have to know about the mode
command unless you use a TV for a monitor.
IF COMMAND
The IF command is a 2-part or optionally 3-part command.
It has a starting statement of the form :
if {numerical expression}
Which can be followed by ARCHIVE commands. Then
optionally there can be a statement of the form:
else
Which can be foltowed by more ARCHIVE commands.
Then there must be an ending statement of the fomi :
endif
So it is a conditional branching statement allowing us to
cdntrol the flow of statement execution based on the value
of a numerical expression. Statements after the "if and
> before an "else" or the "endlT will only be executed if the
numerical expression directly following the "if Is true
(nonzero), if there is an "else" as part of an IF command,
the statements between the "else" and "endif will only be
executed if the numerical expression is false (zero).
Here is a simple command prompt program which shows
how the IF command works :
let x=0:if x sprint "True" selsesprint "Fa Is
se " s en di f <ENTER>
Note that the numerk;al statement after the "if Is simply
the variable x. Because x was set to zero (false) the
statement print 'False" after the else statement is
executed and we see the word False printed on our upper
screen. Now press the <F5> key to recall the statement.
Alter "x=0" to be "x=r using the editing keys. It should
now appear as follows:
let x=lsif X sprint "True" seise sprint "Fa Is
se " s endif
Now press <ENTER>. Since the variable x Is now true
(nonzero), the print "True" after the If x Is executed and
23
we see the word True printed on the upper screen.
Now for a more complex example using the WHILE
command introduced last time. Remember we have
accessed the GAZET database. We will use the eof()
function which remains true unless we try to move past
the last record of the database with the NEXT command.
We will print out all sparsely populated countries (few
people per area) using the ratio of the pop field with the
area field in our numerical expression to branch on.
first: while not eof() sif pop/area<o 01 sprin
t country$; tab 20 /pop; tab 30; area; tab 40;po
p/area s endi f: nex t ? endwhi 1 e<ENTER>
Notice that the order of the countries printed is by
inaeasing population which makes sense because we
have ordered by the pop field and started at the FIRST
record and used the NEXT statement to move sequentially
through them. Press <F5> to recall the line and we will
alter it slightly to move from last to first. It is a little more
complicated because there is no function like eof{) to test
if we try to move past the first record. In this example
recnumO is a function which retums the record number of
the current record (they go from count()-1 to 0). We use it
to sense when we reach the first record (recnum()=0) and
can stop our WHILE loop.
lastilet x-recnum() s while xslet x=recnuirr()
s if pop/area<. 01 sprint country$;tab 20 /pop
/ tab 30/ area / tab 4 0/ pop /area t endi fs backs end
while<ENTER>
Now notice the countries are printed out in reverse order
of last time because we started at the last and worked our
way towards the front.
You can use logical "and" and "or" and "not" within the
numerical expression of the IF command. So lets look at
only large sparsely populated countries. Press <F5> to
recall the last command prompt program and alter to be
like the previous one and add a little more in the numerical
expression so it appears as:
first? while not eof();if pop/area<. 01 and
area>1000 sprint country$/ tab 20 /pop/ tab 30/
area /tab 40/po p/area s endi fs next sendwhile
Now press <ENTER>. Notice that ail the small area .
countries have been eliminated by the and area>1000
added after the pop/area>.01. It never hurts to use
parentheses in the numerical expression to add clarity so :
pop/area<.01 and area>10(X)
can more cleariy be read as :
(pop/area<.01) and (area>1000)
You can also nest the IF statements within one another
but you must always have an "endif for each "if. Those
familiar with SuperBASIC know that you can be sloppy
and not match each "IT with an "endif. SuperBASIC will
implicitly assume you meant to put an "endif at the end of
the line. ARCHIVE requires you to be conscientious and if
you leave out "endif s or "endwhile"s or "endairs you will
get an error. Press <F5> to recall the last command
prompt program and alter it so it has the following nested
If so our listing is organized by continent :
order continent$/a:let c$'^'"' s first: while n
ot eof():if pop/area<. 01 :if c$<>continent$
:let c$=continent$ :print:print c$ :endif:pri
nt tab 2 / country$ / tab 20 /pop/ tab 30/area/ta
b 40 /pop/ area : endif : nex t : endwhi 1 e<ENTER>
ALL COMMAND
The ALL command is a 2-part looping command.
It has a starting statement of the form :
all
Later there must be an ending statement of the fomi :
endall
Statements between the "all" and "endall" will be executed
once for all records currently selected. If an error occurs
within the loop execution will be stopped. Pressing the
escape key, <ESC>, will also halt the loop but if any other
key is pressed before <ESC> it will block the <ESC> from
halting the loop. This means that if you start an "all" loop
you may not be able get control of the program again until
it has finished. On databases with lots of records it can
take<x)nsiderable time for an "all" loop to finish.
So an ALL loop wori<s much like the loops done above
using the WHILE and NEXT commands to step through
the records. The coding is even simpler:
order pop/a<ENTER>
all:if pop/area<.01:print country$/tab 20
/pop/ tab 30/ area / tab 4 0/ pop/ area " endi f: end
all<ENTER>
Although the database is ordered by the pop field, notice
that wasn't the order they came out in. Unlike the looping
using NEXT or BACK with a WHILE command that worics
sequentially through a database off the cun^ently defined
order, the ALL command has no user predk^abie order as
It works its way through all the records. Because of this,
never ALTER, INSERT, DELETE, OR APPEND within an
ALL loop, use the WHILE loop instead. The ALL loop is
faster and easier to use than the WHILE loop. That makes
it handy for quickly looking through a database:
al 1 :prin t coun try$ : endal 1 <ENTER>.
Combining the ALL command with th§ 1^ -command can
make fast inspections possible:
all: if con tinen t$= "AFRICA " or con tinen t$=
"ASIA ":prin t coun try$: endif: endall<ENTER>
all : if no t (con tinen t$^ "AFRICA ") :prin t cou
n try$ : endi f: endall <ENTER>
close<ENTER> Always close files when done
Next time we will look at the PRINT and LPRINT
commands and at useful ARCHIVE functions.
Until Next time Happy Archiving!
2 4
Adding RGB to Your 2068
Crisp, Beautiful Color Economically
RGB on the 2068 is probably one of the
most gratifying additions you can get. The
problem is that there is no simple way to
do it and few companies (if any) have any
to sell. E. Arthur Brown
did have one they
were selling for $19.95 which installed
inside the machine, stripped the sync from
the video, and provided for RGB
connections. The Timex Technical Manual
also shows a way to add RGB by building a
three transistor circuit to strip sync
from the video for RGB operation.
The problem with stripping the sync
from the video is that you don't always
get a clean sync signal. Some of the video
gets into the sync and causes tearing of
the video. Performance also changes if
you have something plugged into the videq
out jack of the computer, loading down the
circuit.
The best way is to get the sync at the
source before any video is added - like
the TC 2068 does (or did?). Inverted low
level sync can be found on the emitter of
transistor Q4 in the video circuit. All
that is needed is to invert and amplify
the sync to a peak to peak voltage of 5
volts which can be accomplished by a
simple one transistor circuit.
WARNING: You must be very careful while
going inside your computer to do any type
of work to it. Be sure and disconnect the
power before going inside. This is not
recommended for a first time project.
This circuit will provide the type of
sync that most RGB monitors require such
as the Sears 14 inch RGB monitor, the
Magna vox (NAP) model 40 and model 80 RGB
monitors, or any monitor that accepts
negative-going composite (or horizontal)
sync.
The RGB signals are available on the
rear edge connector at B27, B28, & B29,
and ground at B32. For internal
connections, see diagrams. Because the
circuit is so simple, they can be mounted
freestyle on the printed circuit board.
Just take care that they stay close to the
board to prevent accidental shorting
against the top cover or other components.
N-3m XTMv^
25
To keep this compatible with other
Sinclair computers such as the QL and the
Spectrum 128 which both have built-in RGB
interfaces, an eight-pin "DIN" plug and
socket should be used with connections as
shown. The eight-pin "DIN" socket can be
easily mounted on the rear plastic casing
by notching the top and bottom case with
wire clippers till the cases will fit back
together with the connector between the
two.
Shown are three cables, one for the
Sears RGB/TV monitor combo, one for the
Magnavox, and one for using the QL with a
monochrome monitor. All the plugs and
sockets should be numbered. Follow the
diagram and wire the ends of the cable so
that they match up to each other. On the
Magnavox cable, you need to mark the ends
so that they are not reversed (both ends
will have an eight-pin "DIN" plug on it.
An audio jack can also be mounted -and
connected- as shown in the diagram for
SOUND and BEEP to be heard through the
monitor's audio amp if available.
PIN ASSIGNMENTS
AUDIO VIDEO INPUT
AUDIO
AUDIO
5 6 7 8
m
O GOO
m
1
H
7
9
7
3
a
7
Horiz. Sync
8
Vert. Sync
X
C>rc^ 6
H
7
K *
(p
5
3 vjCAco
Keep all leads as short as possible,
use a shielded cable to the monitor -
particularly if you make it very .,long.
Once you have everything hooked up, turn
on the computer. It should come up with a
white screen and no rolling. Try BORDER
with all the colors to make sure they are
wired in the right order. If you got
everything right, you can now enter the
new world of sharp, brilliant displays,
and less eye strain!
We had quite a few inquiries as to
where to purchase the Magnavox (NAP) RGB
Monitors as mentioned in the December
issue. They can be found at Service
Merchandise which is a chain of catalog
showrooms throughout the US . For the
26
location of the one nearest you or to
order a monitor over the phone, dial toll-
free 1-800-726-4636. We have also learned
that Best Products Co. Inc. also darries
them at 1-800-221 -BEST. They both have had
the model 40 on sale for $199.95.
pin
function
signal
1
PAL
composite PAL
2
GND
ground
3
VIDEO
composite monocrhome video
4
CSYNC
composite sync
5
VSYNC
vertical sync
6
GREEN
green
7
RED
red
8
BLUE
blue
Service Merchandise also now has a
higher resolution RGB monitor called the
Magna vox RGB 80 for $277. The Magna vox 40
works quite well with the 2068 with 08-64
though. They also have a nice Amber
monitor for $99 which also works well with
OS-64.
— Joe Williamson
UUUUUUUUUUUli
POWER
i (composite,
monochrome)'
I 5 (vertical synch)
(green)
1 (composite PAL)
4 (composite synch)
2 (ground)
Diagram ol Monitor Connector as Viewed from rear of QL Showing pm numbers and functions
COMPUTER CLASSICS
BT 1, BOX 117
CABOOL, MO 65689
Repair Service for America' f
Favorite Home Computer s
and their accessories
ADAM ATARI COMMODORE
IBM OSBORNE SINCLAIR
TIMEX TI TRS~80
BUY - SELL - TRADE - UPGRADE
Write for prices
SASE appreciated
Ph. (417) 469 - 4571
8 AM to 8 PM Central time
How to Convert a Surplus
WC2050 Modem into an
RS-232 SERIAL INTERFACE
for your TSlOOO/1500/2068
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this article is to show you how, with the
addition of a few inexpensive components, you can convert a
WC2050 modem board into a general purpose RS232 serial
interface.
In October of last year, Anchor Automation auctioned off
several thousand completely assembled WC2050 Modem
boards as electronic surplus. Fortunately for Timex users,
these boards were discovered by Timex support companies
like Zebra Systems, Clifford Associates, Sunset Electronics,
and RMG, and are being resold to Timex users at bargain
basement prices.
BLOCK DIAGRAM
Now take a look at Figure 2. It shows a block diagram of the
modem board. The address decoding, crystal oscillator,
frequency divider and 8251 serial I/O, and power supply
portions provide nearly all we need for an RS232 interface.
As a complete modem, the input and output serial data
available at the points marked A and B, would be connected
to the modem's analog circuitry and translated between tone
frequencies and voltage levels. For an RS-232 interface we
need to redirect these signals to DC voltage level translators.
RS-232 PARTS
Next take a look at Figure 3. It shows a schematic of the
recommended RS-232 adaptor circuit. The parts list is
contained in Figure 4. Notice that there are only three IC's.
A MC1889 Line Receiver is used to buffer the incoming
signals; a MC1888 Line Driver is used to buffer the outgoing
signals; and an Intersil ICL7662 switching regulator is used to
develop the required negative supply voltage from the
modem's +9 Volt supply. An alternative to using the
switching regulator would be to just use a second 9 VDC A/C
adaptor. In our prototype we used a 9-Pin Male Atari
Joystick style connector for our RS232 output, but you can
directly wire in a cable or another choice of connector
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
Before installing the RS-232 adaptor board, be sure you have
a working modem board in front of you. It is not important
that the modem's analog section be working as long as the
digital portion of the board is working. Of course if the entire
modem does work, the digital portion will work.
Build up the circuit shown in figure 3. The parts are easy to
find except for the Intersil regulator (see below) An optional
etched and drilled PC board is available to simplify buildmg
the circuit, but any small protocard such as the ones available
from radio shack will do fine.
CONSTRUCTION HINTS
The RS-232 adaptor board requires 9 signals from the modem
board:
OUTPUT SIGNALS: RTS , TX, DTR
INPUT SIGNALS: RX, CTS, DSR
POWER SIGNALS: GROUND, +5 Volts, -|-9 Volts
Eight of these signals are available at the pins of the 8251
serial I/O chip. The only signal not present on the chip is the
+9 volt power, which can be picked up on one side of the
modem's DATA Light Emitting Diode (LED). Our prototype
board (shown in Figure 1), takes advantage of this and uses a
pin-and-socket arrangement to make the 8 connections at the
IC. First a 28-pin IC socket is soldered right on top of the
8251. Then pins are soldered onto the RS-232 PC Board so
that the board can plug in, right on top of the IC. The ninth
signal required is made by attaching a single wire between the
RS-232 board and the +9 Volt power were the LED is. The
positive side of this LED is the lead closest to the corner of
the modem board.
TRACE CUTS
You must make three trace cuts on the modem PC board
This is to disconnect the three modem input-signals that go
from the modem's analog section to the 8251 chip. These
signals are replaced with those coming from your RS-232
adaptor board. The traces to cut are shown in Figure 5.
SOFTWARE & TESTING
If you just want to test out your RS-232 by itself you can do
a simple wrap around test by temporarily connecting CTS to
RTS, and TX to RX, A sample TS2068 software driver for
the modem is shown in figure 6. Under this test arangement,
whatever you send out will be wrapped around and received
back
CI tir-
XC3
3
— NC
FIGURE 3. RS-232 ADAPTOR SCHEMATIC
FIGURE 4. WC2050-TO-RS232 PARTS LIST
MC1489 QUAD LINE RECEIVER
MC1488 QUAD LINE DRIVER
WIRE JUMPERS, 0.3 INCH
WIRE JUMPER, 4.5 INCH
CONNECTOR, DB-9 MALE "JOYSTICK TYPE"
DUAL ROW WIRE-WRAP HEADER PINS
RESISTOR, IK 1/4W
PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD
0-.1UF 25V CER. DISC. (SUPPLY BYPASS)
POWER SECTION - VERSION ONE
INTERSIL ICL7662 POWER CONVERTER IC
10UF 16V ALUM. ELECTROLYTIC (CHARGE PUMP)
10UF 16V ALUM. ELECTROLYTIC (OUTPUT)
POWER SECTION - VERSION TWO
2.5MM OR 3.5MM JACK (NEGATIVE POWER)
AC POWER ADAPTOR
■
TIMEX L| A ADDRESS I FREQUENCY
COMPUTER yp DECODING | DIVIDER
8251
SERIAL
I/O CHIP
ANALOG
SECTION
PHONE
LINE
11
12
1-3
14.
15
20
FIGURE 2. MODEM BLOCK DIAGRAM
FIGURE 6. Sample TS2068 BASIC driver
for wrap-around test at 1200 BAUD.
Change 78 in line 14 to 79 for 300 baud.
0 OUT 119.0 PEM =tnd Zero
sar UflRT ch 3
UT 11
OUT
OUT
OUT
119
119 ,
119 ,
• 0
50
40
50
SUB
UhRT resei
1200b, 3 b:
NO parity
Enable Xffu
R € C € 1 V e
HtM tacr; Dy*£ sent qut IIS
!jj ill. a r i £ 0 n the Transmit
line of Tr,£ R5-232 per
REM Exan-iP L e
PRIr
64: REM
7S : REM
^EM
■id
LPRINT = = ThiS
LET a$ = ='Thi£
1000
•. £ S I .
t £ £ 1
t £ S t
INTFC_BE Listing, Oliger/EPSOH.' e/li/92
1 LOAD /•'JST" DATA J$()
110 CLS : PRINT " THIS PROGRAM ESTABLISHES THE EPSON CLA
SS INTERFACE Please select which physical interface'
you have . " , " "
111 PRINT 1 TASMAN Type A (USA Type B)'"'" 2 TASMAN T'
ype B (USA Type C) 3 AERCO/OL IGER" ' 4 A & J 5
OTHER"
112 INPUT "Which? ";Intf: IF Intf>5 OR Intf<l THEN GO TO 111
113 GO SUB 120+Intf
114 PRINT AT 3,0;" PRINTER ADDRESSES , , " Data Port;
cl = ";cl," Data Cmd Port: c2 = " ; c2 , " Status Port:
c3 = ";c3," BUSY bit val: c5 = ";c5," Control Port: c7 =
";c7," STROBE Bit val: c6 = ";c6," RESET Bit val: c8 = ";c8,"
Control Cmd Port c4 = ";c4''
115 PRINT " Cmd ports apply to Z80 PIO.","Set to 0 if not used
."•'" Input new values as required and GO TO 114, else CONTINU
E . " : STOP
116 PRINT AT 21,2;" CREATING PRINTER INTERFACE ": GO TO 140
120 REM PI0#2
121 PRINT AT 0,0,,,, AT 1,6;" TASMAN Type A ": LET cl=123: LET c
2 = 0: LET c3 = 191: LET c4 = 0: LET c5=:l: LET c6=8: LET c7=251: LET c
8=255-c6: RETURN
122 PRINT AT 0,0,,,, AT 1,6;" TASMAN Type B ": LET cl=123: LET c
2=0: LET c3=251: LET c4=0: LET c5=l: LET c6=8: LET c7=251: LET c'
8=255-c6: RETURN
123 PRINT AT 0,0,,,, AT 1,6;" AERCO ": LET cl=127: LET c2=0: LET
c3=127: LET c4=0: LET c5=16: LET c6=0: LET c7=0: LET c8=0: RETU
RN
124 PRINT AT 0,0,.,, AT 1,6;" A & J ": LET cl=66: LET c2=0: LET
c3=65: LET c4=0: LET c5=4: LET c6=4: LET c7=65: LET c8=0: RETURN
125 PRINT AT 0,0,,,, AT 1,6;" GENERAL CASE ": LET cl=130: LET c2
=131: LET c3=128: LET c4=129: LET c5=16: LET c6=64: LET c7=128:
LET c8=0: RETURN
130 DATA 8,219,c3,230,c5,32, 16,243,8.211,cl,62, ((255-C6) AND In
tf<>4)+(c6 AND Intf=4) ,211+(8 AND Intf=3),(c7 AND Intf<>3)+(c3 A
ND Intf=3) , 62, 255 AND I ntf <>4 , 21 1 , c7 , 0 , 0 , 251 , 201 , 205 , 9 , 32 , 56 , -27
, 207, 12: REM PI0#2
131 DATA 245, 62, 255-c6-c8, 211, c7, 62, 255, 211, cl AND intf<>3,211,
c7, 241, 201: REM INIT. printer
132 DATA 207,18,0,0,24,111: REM JUMP entries
133 DATA 245, 175,61,211,c2,60,211,c2,61,211,c4,62,255-c6-c8,211
,c4,62,7,211,c2,211,c4,24,-41: REM INIT. intfc
134 DATA 197,123,135,135,135,79,123,31,31,230,56,130,205,9,38,1
93, 203, 105, 200, 203, 236, 201
135 DATA 203,97,245,33, 154,92, 121,230, 12, 71, 229, 205, FN b(l,72),
FN b(0, 72) , 126, 225, 1 19 , 203 , 89 , 32 , 2 , 35 , 1 19 , 35 , 20 , 16 , - 17 , 6 , 8 , 197, 3
3, 154,92,6,8, 126,7, 119, 121, 143,79,35, 16,-9, 193,203, 1 13 , 245 , 205 , F
N b(l,0),FN b(0, 0) , 241, 196, FN b(l,0),FN b( 0 , 0 > , 16 , -28 , 203 , 169 , 24
1, 200, 203, 233, 175, 24, -64
136 DATA 17, 0, 0, 1, 6, 22, 197, 33, FN b(l,226>,FN b( 0 , 226) , 205 , FN b(
1,217), FN b(0, 217) , 213,62, 80, 167, 40, 8, 71. 62, 0, 205, FN b(1.0),FN b
(0, 0) , 16,-7
137 DATA 6,32, 197. 213, 205, FN b(l,94),FN b( 0 , 94 ) , 209 , 193 , 28 , 16 , -
10, 209. 121. 230. 12. 130. 87. 33, FN b(l,235),FN b ( 0 , 235 ) , 205 . FN b(3 2
17), FN b(0, 217) . 193, 16, -48
138 DATA 33, FN b(l,239),FN b( 0 , 239 ) , 70 , 35 , 126 , 205 , FN b(l,0),FN
50
b(0»0), 16,-7,201,8,27,51,24,27,42,5,80, 1,2,0, 10, 13,2,27,50
139 DEF FK b<b, o) = ( ( ldO+o-256*IKrT ( ( IdO+o) /.256 > ) AND b=l>-H(IFT
( (ld0+o)/256) AND b=0) ,
140 GO SUB 7771
141 RESTORE 130: FOR J =LDO TO LI?0+241: READ Byt : POKE j , By t ; NE
XT j
142 DIM U$(242>: FOR j=l TO 242: LET U$(J)=CHR$ PEEK (LDO+j-1):
NEXT j
143 GO SUB 7770
144 PRINT AT 19,0;" Interface Module completed,": PAUSE 120
160 CLS : PRINT AT 10,6; FLASH 1;" RECORDING PmodE "
161 SAVE //"PmodE" DATA u$ ( )
165 LOAD /"CAD_BE": STOP
300 DATA 197,123.135,135,135,79,123,31,31,230,56,130,205,9,38,1
93, 203, 105. 200, 203, 236, 201, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
334 DATA 122,230,7,103,122,31,31,31,230,24,180,103,122,135,135,
230,224, 131, 111, 124,48,2, 198,8,246,64, 103,203, 105,200,203,236,20
1
449 FOR n=l TO 11: POKE <LdO+CODE o$(n>>,CODE j $ (Select , n) : NEX
T n
450 RANDOMIZE USR (LdO+CODE o$(12)): RETURN
451 LET select=l: GO TO 449: REM dump
452 LET select=2: GO TO 449: REM zoom dump
453 LET select=3: GO TO 449: REM 64w020,0
454 LET select=4: GO TO 449: REM Gl
455 LET select=5: GO TO 449: REM G2
456 LET select =6: GO TO 449: REM G3
457 LET select=7: GO TO 449: REM 2h2w<520,0
476 STOP
7769 REM INIT MOD & Z80 PIO
7770 GO SUB 7772: GO SUB 7771: FOR J=l TO 242: POKE LD0+ j ~1 , CODE
USCj): NEXT j: RANDOMIZE USR (LDO+49): LET Wa=PEEK 2363H-256*PE
EK 23632: LET Vc=INT <LD0/256) : POKE Va+15, LD0-256*Vc: POKE Va+1
6 , Vc : RETURN
7771 LET LD0=26995: RETURN
7772 RESTORE 7773: DIM 0$(13>: FOR n=l TO 13: READ i$: LET X=VAL
IS: LET 0$(n)=CHR$ X: NEXT n: RETURN
7773 DATA " 161" , " 162" , " 164" , " 165" , " 175" , " 188" , "235" , "229" , "2^2" .
"233" , "234" , "45" , "49"
7776 REM WINDOW GENERATION
7777 LET V64=0: LET Pat=7778: LET Vw=576: LET Wg=5 : LET Vm=54: L
ET Vide=513: LET Vdh=l: LET Wdw= 1 : LET Rqw=0: LET Llnes=l: LET C
ol=0: LET Vcur=3: LET Vlc=0: LET Vmod-78
7778 GO SUB 7835: PAPER 7: BORDER 7: INK 0: CLS : PRINT '" Par
ameter Value "''" GRAPHIC MODE.. ";Wg'" INCH MARGIN... " ; INT
(8000*Vm/Vw)/1000' " INCH VIDE " ; INT (8000*Vide/Vw) /lOOO'; ^' <
";INT (Vide/8/Vdw) ; " CHAR)"'" CHAR HEIGHT... " ; Wdh' " CHAR WIDTH.
... " ; Vdw
7779 PRINT " MAP at ROW., " ; Row' " COLUMN.. ";Col'" LINES
"; Lines,'" Display Screen map"'" Line Mode " ; CHR$
Wmod,
7780 GO SUB 7855
7781 LET wi=CODE INKEYS: IF Wi=0 THEN GO TO 7781
7782 IF Wi=10 THEN LET Wcur=Wcur+(l AND Wcur<12)
7783 IF Wi=ll THEN LET Wcur=Wcur- ( 1 AND Wcur>3>
7784 IF Wi=10 OR Wi=ll THEN GO SUB 7854: GO TO 7781
7785 GO TO 7775+4*Wcur
7786 STOP : REM Safety stop
7787 INPUT "GRAPHIC MODE ? " ; x: IF x<0 OR x>7 THEN GO SUB 7830:
LET x=Wg
7788 LET Wg=x: GO TO Pot
7791 INPUT "Inches MARGIN/DIVIDER? "|x: LET x=x*Vw/8; IF x<0 OR
x>255 THEN GO SUB 7830: LET x=Vm
7792 LET Wiif=x: GO TO Pot
7795 INPUT "LINE LENGTH in Char(0 if inches) ? ";x: IF NOT x THE
N INPUT "Inches wide ? " ; x: LET x=x*Ww/8: GO TO 7797
7796 LET x=x*8*Vdw
7797 IF x+Vin>¥w THEN GO SUB 7833: LET x=¥w-Wni
7798 LET Vide=x: GO TO Pot
7799 INPUT "1 for normal height", "2 for double height ? ";x: IF
x<l OR x>2 THEN GO SUB 7832: LET x=Vdh
7800 LET ¥dh=INT x: GO TO Pot
7803 INPUT "1 for normal width", "2 for double width ? " ; x: IF x<
1 OR x>2 THEN GO SUB 7832: LET x=Vdw
7804 LET Wdw=x: GO TO Pot
7807 INPUT "Screen map at ROW ? ";x: IF x<0 OR x>23 THEN GO SUB
7830: LET x=Row
7808 LET Row=x: GO TO Pot
7811 INPUT "Screen map at COLUMN ? " ; x: IF x<0 OR x>31 THEN GO
SUB 7830: LET x=Col
7812 LET Col=INT x: GO TO Pot
7815 INPUT " LOGICAL LINES ? " ; x: IF x< 1 OR x>24 THEN GO SUB 78
30: LET x=Lines
7816 LET Lines=x: GO TO Pot
7819 BORDER 0: CLS : DIM a$(INT (¥ide/8/Vdw> > : PRINT AT Row.O;:
FOR n=l TO Lines: PRINT TAB Col; PAPER 6-n+3*INT (n/3);a$': NEXT
n
7820 GO SUB 7860: PAUSE 0
7821 REM Allow for stacking segments
7822 GO TO Pot
'7823 CLS : PRINT " LINE MODE SELECTION"''" N = Normal full
line"'''" CONCATENATED LINES"''" L = Left end (Start)"'" M
= Middle"'" R = Right end (New line)"''" Lower case letters sign
ify thathalf a logical line is to be printed."
7824 PRINT " The upper half is printed by default."'" To selec
t the lower half, ADD .5 TO R0¥. PRESS ANY KEY
": PAUSE 0
7825 CLS : PRINT ''" This allows you to intermix normal and d
ouble high copy any-where on the page, saving havingto do it on
the screen."' •" If not intermixed, a logical line is printed,
whether single or double high. The latter doestwo passes automa
tically."
7826 PRINT '" The simplest way to include normal printer text
is to allow blank space for it in your gra- phic run, and repos
ition the page before overprinting with printer characters.
"'" See your manual for this, and other ways to combine text an
d graphics. "
7827 INPUT "Line MODE ? ";iS;: IF NOT (iS="N" OR IS="L" OR i$="M
" OR i$="R" OR i$="n" OR i$=" 1" OR i$="m" OR i$="r") THEN GO SU
B 7830: LET i$=CHR$ ¥mod
7828 LET ¥mad=CODE i$
7829 GO TO Pot: REM Safety stop
7830 PRINT #1;" INVALID PARAMETER": PAUSE 120: RETURN
7831 PRINT #1;"0FF BOTTOM OF SCREEN": PAUSE 120: RETURN
7832 PRINT #1;"MUST BE EITHER 1 OR 2": PAUSE 120: RETURN
7833 PRINT #1;"LINE TOO LONG. SHORTENED TO FIT",: PAUSE 120: RET
URN
7834 DATA "480" , "960" , "960*" , " 1920*" , "640" , "576L" . "720"
7835 RESTORE 7834: FOR n=l TO Vg+1: READ i$: NEXT n: LET ¥w=VAL
i$( TO 3): PRINT AT 3 , 21 ; " (" ; iS ; " DOTS)": RETURN
7854 PRINT AT Vlc.O;" " ; AT ¥cur,0;">": LET Vlc=Wcur: RETURN
7855 GO SUB 7854: GO SUB 7835: LET V0=8 : LET ¥1=1 NT (239*Win/¥v) +
¥0: LET ¥2=INT (239*¥ide/¥w) - 1 : PLOT 0,40: DRA¥ 0,27: DRA¥ 255', 0
: DRA¥ 0,-27: FOR 3s:=0 TO 8: PLOT k*239/8+¥0 , 64 : DRA¥ 0,2: NEX*T k
: FOR k=¥iii TO ¥w STEP 80+(80 AND ¥dw=2); PLOT (k-1 )*239/¥w+¥0, 59
: DRA¥ 0,-2: NEXT k
7856 LET ¥= ( V0-»-¥H-¥2 ) >254 : FOR 'k=56-8*¥dli TO 55: PLOT ¥0,k: PLOT
INK 4;¥l,k: DRA¥ INK 4- (2 AND ¥) ; (¥2 AND NOT ¥)+(6 AND ¥),0:
NEXT k: RETURN
7860 REM LINE PARAMETER CALCS
7861 LET x=CHRS ¥mod>"Z": LET k=¥inod-(32 AND x) : LET ¥2=INT <¥id
e/8)
7862 LET ¥l = win+8* (¥2*wdw* < w64 + l > ) : LET ii^b=INT (¥1/256): LET Isb
=¥l-256*insb
7863 IF ¥inod=78 THEN PRINT PAPER 8 ; AT 3,0; col;" ";row*8;" " ; 8-
(4 AND wdh=2) + (64 AND wdw) + (16 AND w64=2);" " ; llnes*wdh; *' ; wm; "
";¥2;" ";2;" " ; 24 ; " "jwg;" '^'Isb;" " ; msb
7864 IF (¥inad=76 OR ¥inod=77) THEN PRINT PAPER 8 ; AT 3,0; col;" "
;row*8;" ";8-C4 AND wdli=2) + (64 ANDiWdw) + (16 AND w64>;" " ; lln^s^w
dh;" " ; vfm; " ";¥2;" ";1;" ";0;" " ; wg; " ";lsb;" " ; msb
7865 IF ¥mod=82 THEN PRINT PAPER 8; AT 3,0; col;" ";row*8;" " ; 8-
(4 AND wdli=2)-f(64 AND wdw) + (16 AND w64>;" " ; 1 ines*wdh; " " ; wm; " "
;¥2;" ";2;" " ; 24 ; " ";wg;" ";lsb;" " ; msb
7866 PRINT PAPER 8;" PRESS ANY KEY": RETURN
7878 STOP : GO TO POT
9990 POKE 26876, 167
9991 INPUT "Date? ";i$: LPRINT " LN" ; CHR$ 6;: LPRINT #5'"INTFC_BE
Listing. Ollger/EPSON. ";I$'': LLIST #5: LPRINT "XO";CHR$ 12;: S
TOP
9999 SAVE //" INTFC BE" LINE 1
WITH THIS WE COMPLETE ALL WE WILL BE PRINTING CONCERNING THE CAD
SERIES OF PROGRAMS BY BILL PEDERSEN. WE HAVE GIVEN YOU, SO
FAR, THE VERSION FOR LARKEN WITH OLIVETTI INKJET PRINTER, AND
NOW THE OLIGER WITH THE EPSON/IBM COMPATIBLES. WE ALSO HAVE THE
LARKEN WITH EPSON/IBM COMPATIBLE AND THE OLIGER WITH OLIVETTI
PRINTER. SHOULD YOU NEED THE PRINTOUTS FROM EITHER OF THEM
PLEASE SEND A LARGE SELF ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WITH TWO STAMPS ON
IT (OR INTERNATIONAL REPLY COUPONS) AND $2.00 US AND WE WILL
SEND YOU THE COMPLETE PRINTOUT. YOU MAY, OF COURSE, STILL BUY
THE FULL PROGRAM ON DISK WITH MANUAL THROUGH OUR ISSUE DISK
PROGRAM.
*NOTE*
WE HAD INTENDED, IN THIS ISSUE, TO GIVE YOU JIM BRETZ PAYROLL
PROGRAM. THIS HAS BEEN DELAYED TILL NEXT ISSUE. THE ERROR WAS
MINE AND TWO KITTENS, WHO CARRIED OFF THE PACKAGE (AND HID IT)
THAT CONTAINED THE DISK WITH THE PROGRAM. YES, I HAD A BACKUP OF
THE DISK... BUT (AND HERE I GET TO TEAR OUT MY LAST REMAINING
HAIR) IT WAS IN THE SAME PACKAGE. I HAVE FOUND IT , BUT TOO LATE
TO PRINT THIS ISSUE.
33
NEWS AND NEW PRODUCTS FOR YOUR QL by El lad P. Wann\2iit
During a recent trip over to the home of Frank Davis,
and during a recent four week vacation which took me to Oregon,
Toronto, Montreal and New York, I got the chance to try out
several new software and hardware items for the QL. Never be
afraid to try new products; it can be fun. Or that can be put as
"Never regret yesterday, life is in you today and you make your
own tomorrow!" In short, you may find a few dogs when you go
looking for new items for your computer, but if you never look you
will also never find the gems that may be out there. In New York I
ran into an old friend who pretty much still only used the four
PSION programs that came with the QL when he first purchased it.
He had bought only three programs in the last four years. Two he
had never learned how to use, the third had a bug in it, and he
had never subscribed to any Sinclair periodical (I sold him some
back issues of UPDATE, of which all are now available for $16.00
for any one year or $4.50 each otherwise from the UPDATE office,
so get your collection completed before some issues are sold out),
nor had he ever joined a Sinclair user group, despite having the
LIST group nearbyl He was afraid that if he spent a lot on his
computer, which he uses almost daily to do sales reports, that he
might waste money on a program that he could not learn to use!
Talk about allowing fear to paralyze one! As a psychologist this
was to me a challenge. I spent about 2 hours getting him honed in
on the two programs he never learned to use, then fixed the bug he
had in the other (a patch to get it to work with the JSU ROM),
sold him a subscription to UPDATE and got him to join QUANTA. He
is still considering the LIST group. I also told him to contact
EMSoft and Mechanical Affinity to get newer software. Not bad for
an afternoon visit to an old friend; and after all, what are
friends for, right?
While at Franks I got to try out a new item, which
while minor, can still be of great help to those of us who do some
networking. It is a small box, with LEDs for placement between two
or more networked QLs that informs us of when the network is in
use and working. It worked just as advertised. It had no software
to load, or complicated procedure, just plug it in to one of the
networks and the cable into it and otherwise proceed as usual. I
could only have wished for an auditory signal to let me know when
it started and stopped operation on a network line. But that is
just an additional bell and whistle and not really necessary. He
was evaluating as to whether to add these - to_ the catalog of
Mechanical Affinity. On my advice he ordered somfe more and now has
them available for $12.00, which as with all items they handle
does include postage. If you do even a modest amount of
networking, this can be handy. While for those new to it, you will
find it easier to keep track of just what is going on between the
various machines.
While in Oregon I tried to see Dick Wagner, but found
him not home, so I went over to Ed Rourkes. He had written me that
he had just got the new ROMSWITCH from QLEA in the U.K. I could
not pass up the chance to see this and try it out (Frank told me
that Bob Dyl of IQLR had been giving it a modicum of praise). The
version that Ed has fits inside of the QL, but I hear there is
also an external version that is a small box. What it consisted of
was a small printed circuit board that fitted inside the QL. It
has a small toggle switch that you mount on the case, with which
you choose one of two possible ROMs to work with when you power
up. Ed had his JSU ROMs and the MINERVA Mark 1 on his board. With
this he could avoid any program he found to be having trouble with
Minerva, and switch back to his JSU. I tried putting a Bent ROM
board from Mechanical Affinity on the board so I could use it's
switch to select or de-select the extra 16K area I keep Lightning
in and it worked. On the QLEA board is a bi -colored LED so you can
see which system you have selected. Red is for the Minerva and
green is for your normal QDOS operating system. There is a new
version that I have heard about, but not seen and it is external.
With this you can easily change ROMS without opening up your QL,
and it will work with either the Mark 1 or the Mark 2 Minerva.
This board is available from QLEA, c/o Chris Howard, 13 Oak Grove,
Horsford, Norwich, Norfolk, U.K. NR103DR. If you want they can
also provide the Minerva ROM. I believe the price is £25 toj the
kit and £50 with the Minerva. Postage to the USA is £2 and £4
respectively. They will take major credit cards. I am not sure of
the price on the external board so you may want to write about
this. Ah, yes, one more little item on this is that it fits in the
left hand ROM slot, so if you are using the QIMI mouse interface,
the right hand socket is free to do so. Of course if you are using
the new Serial Mouse available from Jochen Merz or Mechanical
Affinity then you need not worry about this. One last note on
this, QLEA stands for QL East Anglica, a QUANTA sub-group, and
this system is fully compatible with the Miracle Systems Gold
Card.
What else is new, or I have not mentioned, yet that I
have tried? I get so use to these things I start to take them for
granted and assume that all pf you have all of the newest items,
but this is not so. My old CST disk interface on my QL always had
four drives hooked up to it, but when I went to a Trump Card I
found myself limited to two drivel. Even when I went to the Gold
Card I could only use three drives. Miracle Systems solved this
with their 4 drive adaptor. This^ allows you to use four drives on
your Trump Card or Gold Card. If you have earlier than a 1.28 ROM
on your Trump Card it will need to be updated or replaced with the
FLP/RAM Level 2 Eprom from Jochen Merz or Mechanical Affinity to
get this little board to work. The price is about $42 with the
updated eprom, and a total of $80 if you want it with the Level 2
operating system. The Level 2 Eprom will allow you to have
directories and read them off of disks done on a Gold Card, as
well as give you increased disk access speed for all disk related
activities. Last, but not least, you can use the new ATR DEV and
read/write as well as format IBM/ ATARI disks. With the Miracle
eprom upgrade 1.37 you will get the directories and sub
directories as well as an updated ToolKit 2 (both have this). If
you are not going for a Gold Card, then the four drive adaptor eind
new eprom is the best thing you can do for your QL to modernize
it. Just what do you need four drives for? How about if you want
to run a BBS and do not have a hard drive, or perhaps you are
heavily into desktop publishing and want all of those fonts and
clip art available . I am sure you can dream up your own reason.
It may even be that you like knowing you have all that power
available. This is the sort of area where we get into personal
preferences.
I seem to be running out of the space allotted to me
and I have so much more I wanted to tell you about, such as the
HERMES replacement chip for the 8049. I wanted to tell you about
the new Gold Card version of PERFECTION (new QL word processor),
and the new Gold Card version of PC Conqueror (uses HD drives.
Extended Memory, and lets you use ED drives as mini hard drives)
just to name a few. These are all done by Digital Precision and
are now once again available in North America from Mechanical
Affinity. Peter Hale is also offering some of these DP products if
you are a member of his club. The list goes on from here, folks!
C.G.H. SERVICES ^
CWM GWEN HALL, PENCADER. DYFED. C YMRU, SA39 9HA
PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SHAREWARE LIBRARY
ALL DISKS £2.00 EACH INCLUSIVE OF MEDIA AND P&P
PLEASB ADD 10% FOR POSTAOB TO EUROPE. 20% FOR REST OF WORLD
ADVBNTURE GAMES DISK 1: includei Fanutia conitroction prog. Biofythmt and piychoiogy progs,
and Ye Clascical Type Adventure.
FONTS DISK 1: A few text 87 fonu - more wanted.
FRACTALS DISK 1: includes large numbers of
mandelbrot and other firactal progs.
FRACTALS DISK 2: Carl Cronin*s Mandelbrot
prog plus animation screens.
ADVENTURE GAMES SOURCE CODE DISK 1;
includes Fantasia, Haunted House etc.
ADVENTURE SOLUTION DISKS 1-3: includes
The Pawn and Mortvillc Manor, mainly ST though!
ADVENTURE SOLUTIONS DISK 4: QL specific
FRACTALS DISK 3: Rainer Kowallick*s
ADVENTURE UTUJTIES DISK 1 :includes Quill to mandelbrot prog as amended to give "Jewel" efflect.
SuperBasic converter and demo adventure.
FRACTALS DISK 4 : disk full of sample screens
AUSTRALIAN P.D. DISKS 1+ 2: include a wide from QRactal by PROGS,
variety of games, utilities etc.
FRACTALS DISK 5 : Lyapunov Space generator
BOOT PROGRAMS DISK 1: a small selection. plus 20 sample screens by Per-Erik Forssen.
COMMUNICATIONS DISK 1: includes QBOX GAMES DISK 1: includes Starburst, Cavern Frenzy.
Bulletin Board system. (Menu on Games Disks by Rich Mellor.)
COMMUNICATIONS DISK 2: includes QL KermiL GAMES DISK 2: includes many arcade type games.
CONNECTIONS DISK 1: includes ST - QL and GAMES DISK 3: includes QL War.
Spectrum - QL screen and file converters.
GAMES DISK 4: includes the demo version of
DEVICE UTILITIES DISK l.includes many. Oddyssey by Neil Davidson (not Minerva compatf)
formatting and Shell programs.
GERMAN - ENGLISH DICTIONARY DISK: a
DEVICHB UTILmES DISK 2 includes arciving and multi-tasking pop-up utility to translate from
compacting progs German to Vj%gi\Mi\
DILWYN JONES DISK 1: includes many GRAPHIX DEMOS DISK 1: Too many to list!
SuperBasic progs and Wordsearch.
GRAPHIX DEMO jSlSK 2 :" Movioloa* (as TV
DISK CATALOG DISK 1: Alan Pemberton's Movie 2 but with eitra commands.
Disktidy [Mogram.
EDITORS DISK 2: QED and MicroEmacs runtime.
EDITORS DISK 3: MicroEMACS source code.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DISK 1: includes
maths, music, and chemistry programs.
EMMANUEL VERBEECK DISK 1: includes screen
save and print progs, and many more utilities.
EMULATORS DISK I: Carlos Delhez's Spectrum
and ZX81 emulators. (Need 256K+)
ENGLISH DICTIONARY DISKS 1 AND 2 : text
flies ported from the ST, with word meanings.
ESOTERICA DISK 1: includes D-I-Y Pyramid
GRAPHIX DEMO DISK 3 : the Brummie 'Elite'
Demos - not Minerva compaL
GRAPHIX DEMO DISK 4 : includes the brilliant
Double 3-D Wave animation.
GRAPHIX DEMO DISK 5: Franz Herrmann's
Wirlworld (O.K. on Mincrvra now.)(needs 512K+)
GRAPHIX DEMO DISK 6 : Mark J. Swift's Prize
wirming "Turning Head" animatioiL (non-Minerva)
GRAPHIX DEMO DISK 7 : Mark J. Swift's
"Tunung Head" done for Minerva.
GRAPHIX SCREENS (GIF FORMAT) DISKS
1,2,3: Misc screens with GIF viewer prog.
36
^ C.G.H. SERVICES
CWM GWEN HALL, PENC ADER, DYFED, C YMRU, SA39 9HA
PUBLIC DOMAIN AND SHAREWARE LIBRARY
ALL DISKS £2.00 EACH INCLUSIVE OF MEDIA AND P&P
PLEASE ADD 10% FOR POSTAGE TO EUROPE. 20% FOR REST OF WORLD
GRAPHIX SCREENS (PCX FORMAT) DISK 1:
Comes with screens and viewer prog. (Not Minervi PROGRAMMING DISKS 22- 26: C68 For QDOS,
compatible.) Source Code.
GRAPHIX SCREENS (QL) DISK l:Mi*c«crecn« PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES DISK 27:
C-PORT Support Library.
GRAPHIX SCREENS (QL) DISK 2: JJR. Haldane's
clip art and other screens. QITALY DISKS 5-11: Reviews, screens shou and
progs, mostly in Italian.
GRAPHIX SCREENS (QL) DISK 3: Roland • • r^DAr'
Kaiser's disk of clip art plus 4 SupcrBasic progs. QPAC UTELITIES DISK 1 : Jeremy Davis QPACer
program, includes several example boot progs.
GRAPHIX SCREENS (SPECTRUM) DISK 1:
Andy Dean's converter prog and sample screens. RALF BIEDERM ANN DISKS 1 + 2: excellent
collection of programs, games', utilities etc.
GRAPHIX SCREENS (ST) DISKS 1,2,3,4.5.6.7,8:
Misc screens ported from the ST mainly by muggins. RAY DENT DISK 1 : 4 utility progs.
GRAPHICS/ SCREEN UTILITIES DISK 1: RECREATIONAL MATHS DISK includes Life
includes sprite designer, CAD and windows progs. cellular automatons etc.
HAM RADIO DISK 1: includes PC conversions. RICH MELLOR DISK 1: 4 utiUty progs.
HARDWARE INFO DISK 1: includes info on Quest STEPHEN BEDFORD DISK I: 7 utiUty progs.
Disk i/face and SupeiQBoaitls. More welcome!
SUPERB ASIC UTILITIES DISK 1: includes large
INDEXES DISK 1: includes QL World and numbers of utility progs, toclkiU, procedures etc.
QUANTA indexes by Chris Adams.
TEXT DISKS 1- 7: The Bible- (Old Testament)
JIMMIE ROBB DISK 1: Several useful progs, esp
for printers. TEXT DISKS 8 - 9: Computer Jargon Text Files.
MALCOLM SMITH DISK 1: 5 useful SuperBasic TEXT DISKS 10 - 11: German-English Word
piogs. Translator (and vice vena)
MATHS AND CALENDAR DISK 1: includes TEXT DISK 12: Olympic Winners (up to 19881)
calculAtor, pi and calendar creator progs.
TEXT DISK 13: Misc files
MONEY DISK 1: 3 useful money progs by Stan ^ ^ ^
Harie - need extra memory and TK2. TEXT DISK 14: 400+ Business Letters from U .S. A.
OUVER FINK DISK 1: includes progs requiring TEXT DISKS 13 - 16: The Bible (New Testament)
Pointer environment to work.
TEXT DISKS 17 - 21: 200.000 English words. An ST
PRINTER UTILITIES DISK 1: includes label port - needs editing!
creators and printer tutorials.
TEXT DISKS 22 - 24: CIA'S World Fact Book.
PROGRAMMING DISK 1: includes QL PROLOG. Current to 1990.
PROGRAMMING DISK 9: includes QLFORTH THOR P.D. DISK 1 : THOR info files and progs.
PROGRAMMING DISK 18: C68 for QDOS - C T.V. MOVIE DISKS 1 - 5: Digitised Italian TV
Tutorial animations.
PROGRAMMING DISKS 19-21: C68 For QDOS TYPING TUTOR DISK 1: Roger HamUton's Artip
Runtimes and docs. (By Dave Walker) prog.
37
NEWS ON THE Z88 IN NORTH AMERICA by Eli ad P. Wannum
I would like to take this time to share some of my
recent observations on the Z88 and to pass along a couple of tips
I hope will be of help to new users. I am but a neophyte at this
mechine myself. First of all, allow me to say that a notebook
computer like the Z88 fits my lifestyle, as a poet, counselor and
a back to nature type of person.. it works and is inexpensive.
One of the oddest things I recently found out is that
it takes more power to expand the Z88 with a 32K cartridge than it
does to add a 128K cartridge, so that perhaps in the long run it
would be less expensive to add a 128K to start with. They can be
obtained in the U.S. from any of the following three: Macro
Systems of Arizona, Domino Cubes of New York, or Mechanical
Affinity of Indiana. Mechanical Affinity also has some 512K
cartridges of RAM, and the best price of the three, but if you
want the 1 meg RAM cartridges you should contact Domino Cubes or
Macro Systems. Macro Systems also has the best solution to the
search for the perfect battery pack for the Z88. Check back issues
of UPDATE for other info on Macro Systems. Domino Cubes can get
you just about anything that was ever produced for the Z88, but
the prices are all strictly "suggested retail price", but may be
worth it considering the level of support that Mike Fink, the
ovAier, can give you. MacLink, cables and soft Z88 carrying cases
can all be found at Mechanical Affinity. At the Fest in Dayton,
Mark of Sharp's indicated that he was still offering some support
for the 288 (at least a lot more than he is giving tthe QLi )
Now for a question from me to you the readers, "Does
Miracle Systems still produce anything for the Z88?" Does this
surprise you? Well it did me too. Looking at a copy pf Z88 USER,
Spring 1988, they had a full page ad on the back cover that
offered all of the following: l)Z-88 Centronics I/F 2)Z-88 V23
Modem 3)Z-a8 Serial Printer Cable 4)Z-88 Zwitch to enable you to
leave both a printer and a modem plugged in 5)Z-88 Modem Cable. 1
have heard nothing lately as to whether they still carry such
items, and not being the owner of a phone I'll not be calling soon
to find out. Perhaps if one of you does, drop me a line care of
UPDATE Magazine and let me know.
As for modems for the Z88, Frank Davis .tells me that
those interested should contact either Roy Wisti, 135 Sheldon Rd.,
Voluntown, CT 06384-3628, or Domino Cubes. It sounds like Roy has
got the ability to give you a good deal on a modem for your Z88.
He also can do repairs for you on them. If you want to get even
more exotic and are looking to really go portable, then Mike Fink
of Domino Cubes can set you up with a fax/modem for your Z88, and
even hook it all up to a cellular phone. This way you can be on
the road and still stay totally connected.
Frank has told me that Dan Elliott has recently
undertaken to learn the repair of Z88s and as soon as he gets a
good line set up for replacement parts he will be able to add this
to the wonderful services he has already been offering us.
Speaking of repaired Z88s, Frank and Paul of Mechanical Affinity
recently bought up a bunch of non-working ones and are in the
process of getting them fixed so that they can turn around and
sell them to us. My hat off to them, only a fool would give the
few dealers we have left in North America a hard time. All of
3 8
these people work regular jobs, haVe families and still find time
to try to help us, and at small or none, on the profit margin!
Thanks to all of our dealers. Why would I bring this
up,..? — because I have heard a few false tales about more than
one of our few remaining dealers. When you hear such tales, ask
yourself as to whether the person who would spread lies is really
being your friend. Pardon my digression on this point, but I was
in Oregon recently and heard such tales about RMG, and in Toronto
I heard similar tales about EMSoft and Mechanical Affinity. As a
trained counselor, I am trained to recognize such mental
aberration and to try to heal such wrong doings. In both places
such tales could be traced to one or two disgruntled people who
were lacking in morals and ethics. All three business locations
that I have mentioned are working hkrd to provide the best of
service. End of subject, and if you are offended, then examine
your motives. I am quite blunt on such points.
Now for a much lighter note. Some folks are confused by
what is meant by "hard" or "soft" reset on the Z88. Hard resets
are done by opening the Perplex (plastic) flap at the front of the
Z88 and pressing on the reset button once, on the left hand side.
After pressing on the button, then close the flap and the screen
should display "Hard RESET" boldly on the screen. Wait a short
while for the RAM to be cycled through and the INDEX will once
again appear. You will have lost all saved files or suspended
activities, etc. All will be lost except what was in EPROM. This
gives the machine a clean sweep.
In order to do a "soft reset" do the following. Make
sure that the Perplex flap is closed, then hit the reset button
twice. They tell me that it will try to retain all of the saved
files, but lose the clock setting and suspended activities and any
other data, as well as the PANEL settings, I would only do either
of these resets if the machine would not respond to any keyboard
input (do not be rash, make sure this is the case) or it will not
turn either on or off in the usual manner. Then try a soft reset
first. Save the hard reset as a last resort. If the soft reset
works then you will have saved your data, and lost but little
else. Should the soft reset not work, or the screen says "soft
reset" but goes no further, then by all means go ahead with the
hard reset, as your last resort. Hard resets are also advised by
some when you put in new batteries, but for my money only if I
have saved all I am working on either over to my Amiga, QL, or
PC3. Perhaps they mean when you "first" put in batteries for the
first time or after having allowed the machine to sit with dead
batteries? I will play with this concept and let you know what I
find out.
I need some help on the following. I have about* 6
EPROMS that are already burned with Z88 programs. What I want to
do is remove the contents from these EPROMS and save it over to
disk, and then reburn the EPROMS with some new programs. I do not
want to lose the data, yet want to re-use the EPROMS. Will some
kind soul tell me how to do this? I have also heard that there are
some Z88 user groups in Europe. Does anyone have the names and
addresses of the above? Let me know and I will pass it on to the
readers of this column. Thanks folks. EPW \
C.Q.H. SERVICES
OP AC H ■ Th0 OftAU Succ»»»of \ ^
IT SERVICES
JlOIGITRLPS£CISlOf1.,o
QLAW
OVIEW -MlfNEMVA
^ TOOLKIT II
tsl PD Library
QL Survivor's
Source Book
■7
u
o
""Mo
?
PERFECTION
QL KEYBOARD 90 INTERFACE
Sinclair
Desktop Publishing
^ Set CoJ»(
QL REPAIRS
tpDATI
'P.O.BOX 1095
PERU, IN 46970
The "OL SUR^;iUORS SOURCE BOOK
2nd EDITION" is now available
from UPDATE, for only $7.95 +
$3.00 s & h. Uorldujide lists
of all OL BOOKS, PERIODICALS,
BULLETIN BOARDS, USER GROUPS,
HARD and SOFTUARE DEALERS and
PUBLIC DOMAIN and SHAREWARE
SUPPLIERS. 1st EDITION Still
available for only $5.00 and
$2.00 s & h. All amounts US$.
CORRECTED OL MEMBRANE MATRIX
It has long been known that the
Layout for the membrane in the
OL, as given in the manuals is
not correct. This appears to
correct most, if not all errors
(should you find more or have
more to add, send it to the
UPDATE editor. Corrections are
offered courtesy of MiKe Hereid
and Paul Holmgren. They worked
independently of each other.
o
OS
CO
+ II
0.
1 ,
7 ^
4
3:
s .
b
0
1
A.
X
H
11
0
>•
t
>
CD
<t
a:
UI
u
U
v\
t
fi
i
M> in ^t- lO rc
J)
e
6
TRANSFERRING
Z-88 FILES
TO THE 2068
by John J. Shepard
I got my Z-SS so I could have a truly portable computer. Not a
2068 or a 1000 in a suitcase, but a real notebook, at a price
that was affordable. I wanted a Sinclair product on which I
could continue my efforts while on the road on my job. maybe
use it as an enhancement to my job. (That has worked out).
So, I appealed to the Timex community through N/L. I used my
local (HA! I'm in Iowa, local is Chicago) UG - CATUG & it's
N/L 'NITE TIMES NEWS' and T/SNUG's N/L 'SIR CLIVE' . I was
answered vv-ith not one, but five offers, and one was within my
price range and viorked. This was how I met Dave Bennet (more
on him, later), but he told me of the seller who was selling it
for a friend and even with this kind of third party
relationshijp she took my personal check, packaged it up with
bubble wrap, PC Link, a power supply, and fresh batteries.
Isn't this a great group we're in??! Now with batteries in
their slot, a rechargable set from Lee at Macro Systems, Salt
Lake City, Utah and the Realistic Power supply my memory is
almost non-volatile.
My only problem was hovj to archive my files. I don't have a
PC, Mac, or QL so the Link SW is out, nor did I want to support
them anyway. I couldn't afford the $450 disk drive that is
offered by Domino Cubes. V/hat I v^anted to do was typically
something no one seemed to be doing - using what I had - a
2068. There seemed to be no easy road. There is not an
Import-Export pgm avail, for the 2068 nor is there a serial
hardware/Kof t\/are pkg readily available. Oh sur?. if you've
got a ZSI/0 IF or a 2050 PCB - you can hack one out, - so you
might have the hdw, but the SW?????
So, vjherr. Frank Davis and the^x Dave Eemis'^t mentioned a null
modem, they really had my interest. Especially, since this
type of transfer could help me get around the need for a serial
to parallel converter needed to print straight from the Z-88.
They are expensive, about $100, this may not be much to you,
but with 5 children and a middle income, you have an idea of my
budget constraints. It also makes me mad when someone asks so
much for something that is so simple. Back to the null modem,
where if I understand it correctly, you cross the Recieve and
Transmit wires and use a modem pgm. without a modem. Probably,
not real accurate but as close as any user who's out in the
sticks without a UG to go across the street and compare notes.
So, as I was searching, Dave Bennet, came to my rescue and
suggested I could somehow use Z-88COM (a Z-88 modem pgm. ) and a
BBS on the 2068. Here I must tell you that without Dave Bennet
I would be using my Z-88 for a doorstop, not my Z-81. Dave
bent over backwards trying to help this ignoramus deal with his
failings. Dave's first contact with me & my 88 was to send me
a PC disk full of 88 pgms and utilities that could be had as
soon as I discovered the diff. between a 286 and 386 based PC.
Talk about incompatibility, Timex/Sinclair machines have got
nothing on IBM, right HAL? (But no matter how. much you love our
machines, let me tell you if you're ^to get along in the outside
world you had better get PC smart. Sort of like, if you're in
a foreign country, the ability tp read, write and speak their
language puts you on much firmer footing than if you're working
through an interperter) . I have called Dave time and time
again, written many stupid questions and even borrowed
equipment, me a perfect stranger, but a fellow Sinclairist in
trouble. The same can be said of Bob Swoger who has listened
many times to my whinnings, much to the dismay of his lovely
wife, Annette, but there has been light at the end of the
tunnel. Not as bright as I would like, but close.
I can treunsfer files. I can archive them on disk with my LKDOS
2068. But, if my Z-S8 crashes it's mod€im progiam 1 haven't
figured how to get it back from the 2068, with no readily,
recognizable or operable transfer pgm. , method, SW. So, until
I can, I'll use an EPROM cartridge to store the modem SW. The
only source, for the EPROM I found, is Domino Cubes,
(212-971-0368) % Mike Fink.
The phone line connection is not a straight wire. I could not
get the Hayes compatible modem for the Z-88 to call without a
dial tone to start it off. Or, the same for the 205C, I could
have done as John Bell suggested in TDM 5.1 (Boy, was 5.1 hard
to come by. Huh?). He says, by soldering a push button
Normally Open switch across pins 4 & 7 of the 74C00 IC, you can
simulate an Incoming call. Now, I'm not above a little
hardware hacking, but my 2068 has enough loose wires connected
to it. So, if I can bypass hacking, I will. Therefore, the
following method :-
Take a phone line from the Hayes and one from the 2C50 and plug
them both into one of those phone jack modules that lets you
plug two into one. Then, you have to get house hold security
to break the fingers of any teenager or otherwise who dares to
pick up any other phone during your transfer. Next we'll set
up the Z-88. When it's on, set the parameters first, (no
adjustment later, as you can with MTERM)cn the Panel ([] S) to
300 BAUD - RECIEVE & TRANSMIT, Parity - NONE, XCN/XOFF - No.
(It then matches your 2050). That ' C ] " , (left and right
bracket) is to symbolize the square symbol on the Z~88 keyboard
where [] S will get you to the Z-88 Panel. With your
parameters set, LOAD Z-38COM.BAS into BASIC and RON, after the
M/C is LOADed, the menu will come up.
On the LKDOS 2068 LOAD MAXCOM and set it up to AUTO ANSWER as a
BBS as pointed out in the Manual, Bob Svjoger or I can help,
(sorry. Bob) if you have any questions.
Once it 'set, go to the Z88COM menu and press G, this will take
you to the V-52 terminal where you can access the Hayes modem
with an ATDTXXX-XXXX where the X's are your phone number, the
ATD tells the modem you want to dial a number and the second T
says it will be a tone rather than a pulse. Some of you may
find this all rudimentary, but I had no idea that these Hayes
Commands were a standard, maybe someone else won't know either.
Anyway, when you dial your own number you will, of course, get
a busy signal, (but you will have also entered the 2050 's 74C00
IC), ciftar t5i© busy sig prses SNTER on your Z-88, when the
terminal resonds and waits, type ATA - ENTER. This will send a
mod€5!n carrier. If yoii l^afs 6mm it quick enough, (d!2ring the
time the 2050 sends it's carrier before it times out), you'll
get ?i coDJiect. When you do, ENTER the BBS staying with the
Z-88 keyboard as the caller. When the Command Menu pauses at
the prompt, choose Upload a pgm with a U. It will ask you for
the file's name with an LKDOS extension, ie., X.CT where X can
be the name of your Z-88 file or any name you want to call it.
Then it will ask if you want Headers - say Yes with a Y and
will go to Recieve. Now get out of the V-52 Terminal by keying
[] B for Basic to get to the Z88COM menu where you'll press S
to SEND a file, the SEND menu asks for the name of the file you
have in the RAM, pre-selected by the Panel parameters, that you
wish to SEND, the pgm will tell how many blocks are to be sent
and you're off. (The number of blocks will, with experience,
tell you how long the transfer will take - at 300 BAUD about
4.5 sees per block). Using XMODEM there can be no glitches to
corrupt your transfer. A good block transfer is indicated by a
appearing on your monitor, while a glitch (usually caused
by any extraneous noise on the line) is indicated by a If
a block transfer has been corrupted by some problem, XMODEM
will reattempt the transfer till it's good. If you get a
string of then ma^'be you should break the connect and clean
up your signal. You can hear this either with the speaker on
your modejic or ov<»r a phone. Usually a wiggle of a connector
will clean up the signal. While I've used this method, since
you have, a "captive, dedicated" phone line (except for
teenagers" it has gone error free. When the file is
transferred, MAXCOM will SAVE it, on disk selected by it's
menu, to the file you named, then say BYE at the prompt and
you're home free«
Or as Bob Swoger says,
ENJOY i
TBVfEXERS CAN
SURVIVE WITH
HELP
THE MUSIC SUITE LTD. ^
The Music Suite Ltd, Cenatfh, " v
Newcastle Emiyn, Dyfed SA38 9JN.
Credit Card Hotline: (0239) 710594 FAX: (0239) 71 1343
THE Z88 - LINK II
• FULL REMOTE CONTROL OF THE Z88 WITHOUT AN EPROM
• ADVANCED BATCH PROCESSING ON ALL FUNCTIONS
• ARCHIVAL OF ALL Z88 RLES ONTO DISK (INC. FULL BACKUP) WITH VERIFY OPTION
• CONVERTS PIPEDREAM FILES FOR WOROPROCESSOR USE (USING THE PtESULTS OF
FORMULAE RATHER THAN THE EQUATIONS)
• CONVERTS PIPEDREAM RLES TO WORK WITH DATABASES OR LOTUS 1 -2-3 COMPATIBLE
SPREADSHEETS
« PRINT PIPEDREAM RLES ONTO ANY PRINTER CONNECTED TO THE HOST COMPUTER'S
PARALLEL PORT
• PRINT FULL Z88 DIRECTORY ONTO PRINTER
AVAILABLE NOW FOR: ATARI STs. PC COMPATIBLES and AMIGA'S
Each program comes on disk, wWi a cable and manual for £34 96
(PC version comes on tx)th a SVa' and sy^' disk)
Registered owners of the 2B8-ST Link or Z88-Amiga Link can i^xJate to the Z88-UNK 11 for £10
Please make chequea/PO's payable to: THE MUSIC SUHE LTD.
You can also pay on credit card (Access/Vlaa) by FAX (0239) 71 1343 or phone (0239) 710594
%R+ ' ■
DOMINO CUBES - 484 W. 43rd ST. SUITE 27 Q-NEW YORK 10036 (PRESIDENT MIKE FINK).
PH: 212 971 0368 FAX: 212 268 4122 Number OF PAGES SENT = 001 P.l
%R-
NAME.
ADDRESS . . . ^ . . . . . V: ^
PHONE.. FAX..
INVOICE NO MISC.
REFERENCE .ERI
.800.
SUB
ITEM DESCRIPTION
UNIT COST
QTY
TOTAL '
. • • 1
$580
0
$0
' ■■■) . 1
THIS IS A SPREADSHEET ■
$52
0
$0
WHERE, AS ENTRIES ARE i
1 OOV DAM OT> voti/^nur
$122
0
$0
MADE, EACH COLUMN AND ■
256K RAM OR EPROM
$198
0
$0
ROW WITH NUMBERS IS i
51 2K RAM OR EPROM
$318
-0
$0
AUTOMATICALLY ALTERED i
1024K RAM ,
$488
0
$0
BY ' THE APPROPRIATE i
EPROM ERASER (SHIRT POCKET)..
$68
0
$0
MATHEMATICAL COMPUTA i
EPROM ERASER (2 CARDS)
$78
0
$0
TIONS, . GIVING THE^ ■
EPROM ERASER (4 CARDS)
$95
0
$0
EXACt 'result WITH NO' i
PARALLEL CABLE
$73
0
$0
EFFORT BY THE USER, i
SERIAL CABLE
$27
0
$0
AND NO CHANCE FOR i
Z88-— IZ88 CABLE
$24
0
$0
ERROR, NO MATTER HOW i
PC LINK IBM
$88
0
$0
COMPLEX. -1
MANUAL "A" FREE (WITH Z88) . , .
$10
0
$0
THIS COLUMN IS ALSO i
MANUAL "B" ADVANCED
$20
0
$0
JUSTIFIED, FOR , NO ■
9600/2400-SEND/FAX/MODEM
$383
0
$0
REASON OTHER THAN 'TO i
DISC-DRIVE hardware+software
$420
0
$0
DEMONSTRATE THE POWER i
CELLULAR PHONE-CALL FOR PRICE
$P
0
$0
OF THIS COMPUTER, AND 'a
BUBL-JET lOe PRINTR (no batry)
$425
0
$0
TO MAKE THE TEXT LOOK a
SPELLMASTER-ALONE
$150
0
$0
NICER. 1
UNIVERSE/WITH SPELLMASTER . . .
$210
0
$0
0
$0
MIKE FINK {} [] . ■
/I
TOTAL OF ITEMS
$0
0.0825
0
$0
SHIPPING and HANDLING and insurance
MISCELLANEOUS
TOTAL - TOTAL
%R+
MIKE FINK - PRESIDENT OF DOMINO CUBES
ROY WIST I - VICE PRESIDENT
%R-
$0
$0
$0
C ] { }
END OF . PAGE 001
45
%R+
DOMINO CUBES - 484 W. 43rd. ST. SUITE 27 Q~NEW YORK 10036 (PRESIDENT MIKE FINK) .
PH: 212 971 0368 FAX: 212 268 4122 Number OF PAGES SENT = 001
%R-
THIS FAX IS BEING SENT WITH OUR 7 OUNCE FAX/MODEM AND OUR 2 LB. COMPUTER WHILE
SITTING IN A CANOE IN A LAKE WITH NO ELECTRICITY. THE CELLULAR PHONE CARRIES THE
DATA - NO NEED FOR ELECTRIC OUTLETS. TOTAL WEIGHT IS LESS THAN 5 FOUNDS ! * !
DOMINO CUBES OFFERS THE ONLY TRULY PORTABLE-TAKE- ANYWHERE-TOTAL- OFFICE SYSTEM IN
THE WHOLE WORLD ! NO OTHER COMPANY CAN SUPPLY A REAL FULL FUNCTION COMPUTER THAT
RUNS EVERYTHING FOR A WEEK (OR LONGER IF NECCESSARY) , WITHOUT RECHARGING OR
LOOKING FOR WALL ELECTRICITY. ALL OTHER SO-CALLED PORTABLES, OR LAPTOP OFFICE
SYSTEMS PROVIDE NO MORE THAN 3-6 HOURS OF COMPUTER LIFE — THEN YOU ARE DEAD IN
THE WATER, AND CARRYING EXTRA BATTERIES WON'T HELP, BECAUSE THEY TOO MUST BE
CHARGED, REQUIRING A SEARCH FOR A HOTEL OR SOME OTHER SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY.
ALL OTHER PORTABLE SYSTEMS WEIGH 17 —1 30 POUNDS; AND COST FROM $3300 TO $6500.
THAT IS NOT ? ORT ABLE !!
DOMINO CUBES SUPPLIES A 2 LB. COMPUTER WITH ALL THE PROGRAMS ALREADY INSIDE,
AND CONTAINS THE EQUIVALENT OF WINDOWS , ALI.OWING FLYING AROUND FROM ANYWHERE TO
ANYWHERE WITHOUT LOSING YOUR PLACE, HAS A FULL KEYBOARD THAT CAN BE MADE SILENT,
AND IS COMFORTABLE FOR REAL T'fPISTS. THE I NSTANT-ON POWERFUL WORDPROCESSOR/
SPREADSHEET IS REMARKABLY EASY TO USE IT COMES WITH A TERMINAL TO RUN OUR
9600/BAUD/SEND-FAX /MODEM WHICH WEIGHS 7 OUNCES, AND IS THE SIZE OF A PACK OF
CIGARETTES. IT COMES WITH BASIC TO ALLOW LOADING OR CREATING NEW PROGRAMS. THE
COMPUTER FITS INSIDE A PLAIN MANILLA ENVELOPE,
YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN OFFICE SYSTEM FROM THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:
ZiCQMPUTER YfFAX/MODEM XsPRINTER WbCSLLUL^^R PHONE V5CARRY CASEa 1
UiCCi2 TiCCi3 SIGCB4 RsCCsS QbADV,MAN B P 5 TELETYPE PROGRAM
NiSPELLCHECKER Ms SPELLCHECKERf EXTRAS LiSPEECH SYNTHESIZER KsBATT/BELT
APPROXIMATE
PRICES (BELOW)
ARE VALID THROUGH OCTOBER 1992
Z
Y
X
W
L N M P
GARY/CASE
COMP'R
FAX/M
PRNTR
C-PHONE SPEECH SP-CH SP-CH+ PROGRAM TOTAL +
BATT/BELT
A $850
$383
$1233
??
B $850
$383
-$700
--- - $1§33
C $850
$420
— S150 $1420
D $850
$383
$420
__- $1653
??
E $850
$383
$420
$700
$2353
??
F $850
$383
$650 $1883
? ?
G $850
$383
___ $40 $1273
??
H $850
Q-$20
M-$210 -
__- $40 $1110
??
MIKE FINK
HAS WRITTEN
A PROGRAM,
ALLOWING YOU TO FAX A LINE-AT-A TIME, LIVE - AS
YOU TYPE -
- LIKE
A TELETYPE ! * !
* !
THE COMPUTER PRICE INCLUDES: AN AC/ADAPTER, PARALLEL CABLE, MINIMUM NECESSARY
MEMORY, MY BEGINNERS MANUAL AND THE CAMBRIDGE MANUAL.
THE FAX/MODEM PRICE INCLUDES: AN AC/ADAPTER, PHONE CABLE, COMPUTER/MODEM CABLE,
INSTRUCTION MANUAL, ACOUSTIC CABLE AND 1 MONTH FREE COMPUSERVE ! * !
46
ii
DOMINO CUBES - 484 W. 43rd ST. SUITE 27 Q-NEW YORK 10036 (PRESIDENT MIKE FINK) .
PH: 212 971 0368 FAX: 212 268 4122 Number OF PAGES SENT =
DEAR CAR MANUFACTURER; AVIS IS RENTING COMPUTERS WITH THEIR CAR RENTALS,
THE COMPUTERS THEY RENT ARE NOT USABLE UNTIL YOU CHARGE THE BATTERIES. '
YOU MUST FIND A HOTEL OR ELECTRICITY TO USE IT.
THE COMPUTERS THEY RENT REQUIRE BEGINNERS TO SPEND HOURS LEARNING HOW TO USE IT.
THE COMPUTERS THEY RENT DO NOT FIT IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT.
THE COMPUTERS THEY RENT CAN'T BE USED IN THE CAR
THE COMPUTERS THEY RENT ARE EXPENSIVE TO RENT
OUR COMPUTER COMES WITH A CIGAR LIGHTER ADAPTER IF NEEDED
OUR COMPUTER FITS IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT
OUR COMPUTER CAN SEND AND RECEIVE DATA FILES FROM IBM'S AND MACINTOSHES
OUR COMPUTER CAN BE USED ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, INSTANTLY, AND NEVER NEEDS CHARGING
OUR COMPUTER WEIGHS LESS THAN 2 POUNDS i THE FAX/MODEM WEIGHS 7 OUNCES.
OUR COMPUTER CAN SEND FAXES ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, NO ELECTRICITY REQUIRED
OUR COMPUTER ALLOWS BEGINNERS TO START USING IT IN 2, SECONDS, MOST INSTRUCTIONS
ARE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES. UNDER THE 80 COLUMN SCREEN.
OUR COMPUTER HAS ALL THE PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ALREADY
INSIDE, NO PROdRAMS NEEDED!!
OUR COMPUTER ALLOWS LOCAL DEALERS TO INSTANTLY CREATE CUSTOM-MADE INFORMATION
FOR THE RENTER- IT CONTAINS AN EPRO/l BURNER! !
OUR COMPUTER ALLOWS THE USER TO CREATE THEIR OWN PROGRAMS IN SPREADSHEET OR IN
BASIC. ALL NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE USER CAN BE PUT IN THE 32K EPROM
IT NOW OCCURS TO ME THAT IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THE CAR MANUFACTURER TO
OFFER THIS COMPUTER AS AN OPTION WHEN 'THE CAR IS SOLD, RATHER THAN RENTING IT.
IT CAN BE USED'AT HOME, IN THE CAR, AT THE OFFICE, OR ON A YACHT.
TO SEND FAXES OR DATA ALL YOU NEED IS A PHONE, OR A CELLULAR PHONE.
IF YOU CARRY THE 8 OUNCE PRINTER CABLE, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO CARRY THE 4 L^.
PORTABLE PRINTER, BECAUSE PRINTERS ARE AVAILABLE ALMOST EVERYWHERE.
THE COMPUTER FITS IN A PLAIN MANILLA ENVELOPE!
MIKE FINK - PRESIDENT OF DOMINO CUBES
ROY WIST I - VICE PRESIDENT * ♦ » ♦ END OF PAGE
47
DOMINO CUBES - 484 W. 43rd ST, SUITE 27 Q-NEW YORK 10036 (PRESIDENT MIKE FINK) .
PH: 212 971 0368 FAX: 212 268 4122 Number OF PAGES SENT =003 P.l
NEWS-1 HARLAN NEUGEBOREN FAX 563 7154
IIR. NEUGEBOREN, IF YOU WANT TO BE THE FIRST NEWS MEDIA TO DISCUSS THE IMPENDING
REVOLUTION IN THE COMPUTER WARS - YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING
CHUBB INSURANCE HAD TO GO DOWN TO FLORIDA TO TAKE CAFE OF HURRICANE ANDREW
BUSINESS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE FROM FLORIDA BECAUSE ALL THE POWER
WAS DOWN. THEY ASKED A CELLULAR COMPANY TO FABRICATE QUICKLY A LAPTOP, WITH
FAX ABILITY AND A FAX CELLULAR PHONE. IT WORKED! BUT THEY WERE OUT OF BUSINESS
IN 2-3 HOURS AND HAD TO LOOK FOR ELECTRICITY TO RECHARGE,
THE MOBILE OFFICE THEY USED IS TYPICAL OF ALL THE MAJOR COMPUTER MAKERS IN
THE WORLD! THEY ARE EXPENSIVE, HEAVY AND iJUN OUT OF STEAM IN A FEW HOURS.
THE COMPUTER WORLD THEY HAVE CREATED IS RUNNING ON THE WRONG TRACK AND THEY
ARE ALL GOING TO CRASH! ! ^ THEY WILL VERY SOON COME TO THIS REALIZATION.
THERE IS ONLY ONE COMPANY IN THE WORLD TH4T OFFERS A LIGHTWEIGHT, INEXPENSIVE
COMPUTER/FAX/SEND/SYSTEM THAT NEVER NEEDS NEEDS RECHARGING OR CHARGING! * !
THIS COMPANY IS ABOUT TO SET THE WORLD ON ITS HEELS, BY OFFERING THE BEST
MOBILE OFFICE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD, THE EASIEST TO LEARN AND USE, AND THEY ARE
'PUSHING AUTO MAKERS TO OFFER THEIR INSTANT-ON GLOVE COMPARTMENT COMPUTER AS AN
OPTION IVHEN BUYING A CAR. AVIS IS TRYING TO RENT LAPTOPS WHEN THEY RENT THEIR
CARS, BUT THEIR COMPUTERS ARE NOT USABLE UNTIL YOU CHECK INTO A MOTEL TO
CHARGE THE BATTERIES. IF YOU GG TG SLEEP IN THE MOTEL THE BATTERIES LOSE MOST
OF THEIR POWER BY THE TIME YOU WANT TO USE IT THE NEXT DAY. FOR NOVICES THE
INSTRUCTIONS TAKE 10 HOURS TO LEARN. WITH DOMINO CUBES. A COMPLETE NOVICE CAN
BEGIN„ USING THE COMPUTER IN 3 SECONDS, MOST OF THE INFO IS IN YOUR FACE UNDER
THE 96 COLUMN SCREEN, AND IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH, CUSTOM MADE INSTRUCTIONS OR
MAP DIRECTIONS COULD BE PUT ON THE REMOVABLE EPROMS, WHICH TAKE 4 TO 40
SECONDS TO BURN. THE EPROM BURNER IS PART OF THE COMPUTER! OTHER COMPUTERS
CAN'T EVEN DO THAT, THE COMPUTER ALSO ALLOWS DATA TRAJISFER FROM IBM'S OR MAC'S
THE FAX MODEM SENDS FAXES FROM A^JYVrHERE TO ANYWHERE ANYTIME, ANY PLACE, WITHOUT
ELECTRICITY, AND LASTS AS LONG AS YOU WISH!!!!!!!! WHEN THE INSURANCE FIELD
PEOPLE, AND THE AUTOMOBILE PEOPLE, AND AVERAGE HOME PERSON WANT AN EASY TO USE,
EASY TO LEARN FULL FUNCTION COMPUTER., THAT HAS THE EQUIVALENT OF WINDOWS INSIDE,
AND ALL NECESSARY PROGRAMS ALREADY INSIDE, NO SOFTWARE TO BUY, THE REST OF THE
C(»IPUrER WORLD TRAVELLING IN THE WRONG- DIRECTION AS FAR AS PORTABLE LIFE, AND
WEIGHT IS CONCERNED IS GOING DOWN THE" DRAIN.
FOR SCHOOL, FOR LIBRARIES, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, FOR FIELD DATA CAPTURE, THERE
IS NO OTHER COMPUTER TO COMPETE WITH DOMINO CUBES. THERE ARE MANY SOFTWARE
PROGRAMS AVAILABLE, BUT THEY ARE NOT NEEDED FOR MOST PEOPLE, BUT THE DEGREE OF
SOPHISTICATION IS UNLIMITED.
IF YOU ARE TALKING PRICE. ... .WE ARE THE BEST!
IF YOU ARE TALKING WEIGHT WE ARE THE BEST!
IF YOU ARE TALKING FIELD LIFE WE ARE THE BEST!
IF YOU ARE TALKING USER FRIENDLY WE ARE THE BEST!
IF YOU WANT MUSIC, GRAPHICS AND GAMES... YOU HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE.
OUR COMBINED WORDPROCESSOR/SPREADSHEET IS POWERFUL AND EASY TO USE.
OUR FAX/MODEM ALLOWS FIELD GRAPHICS TO BE SENT WITH THE SAME CLARITY AS THE TEXT
AS OPPOSED TO OPTICAL BLURRING.
IN ESSENCE, THE STORY IS THAT THE REST OF THE COMPUTER WORLD HAS TO CHANGE
DIRECTION IF THEY WANT TO CATCH THE MARKET OF PORTABLE OFFICE COMMUNICATION
THAT DOMINO CUBES IS ABOUT TO TAKE FROM THEM! !!!!!!!!
WE ALSO HAVE THE ONLY LIVE TELETYPE FAX PROGRAM, THAT YOU HAVE TO BUY EXTRA!
you can sit in the stands in barcelona, and type what you see and as you type
it is faxing at the ny times fax machine!!
MOBILE OFFICE MAGAZINE WANTS A COLOR SLIDE OF OUR COMPUTER.
MacLinK and fQUnH
Maclink and the Macintosh
The MacLink program on the Macintosh was written after the MS DOS version PCLink and the
higher level of user friendliness that has resulted from this is quite striking. Once, the, pable ha^ been
connected between the Z88 and the "Telephone" port of the Macintosh, and UicLink program has
been started up on both, all operations are then performed on the Macintosh. The Link program is
started by double clicking ihe^Maciniosh Application and by typing Q l on uhe Z38. The Z88
becomes a "disk drive" for the Macintosh and miay be selected using the DRIVE button on the
Mabintosh screen. All file transfers are performed from left to right sp the first task;is to' opeii.up the
various "Folders" on the Macintosh, and the Devices and ciirectories on lheZ88 so as to hav?'.the file
being moved in the left column and the place it is going to on the right. Next the operate/ should
i select the file conversion to be pcjrformed. This will normally be "None" unless the document is a
i ' spreadsheet document or a normal word processing document in which case the 'Appropriate
conversion can be selected. Next select the files in (he left hand box that are td be moved lising the
mouse click and perhaps the command or SHIFT key td select more than orte. "Wiien 'all are
selected click the transfer bdx and file trarisfer and Cdn v6rsidn if ffequired Will pfoc^ed; i|i practice
its simpler than it appcafs here. , ' , ' . , , ^ , ! /
The Link package is not fast (about 100 bytes per second) so have>your coffee ready. jFor larger files.
; The cables- required to link the Z88 id a Macintosh are.provided V/ith M^cLink or may be built up
using the circuit details at'ihe end of the manii^ ' r , •
PCIinK antf thg PC ■ -."^ ^ ' . ' r: ' ''^
PClink is a fairly intuitive package to operate on the PC. Apart from its speed, it has a' few minor
difficulties. It will only handle one file at a time," con versions to other file formats must be Randled
as separate operations, 'and tlie conversions must be perfbrmed in the directory that containsiPCLink
' and ilie conversion modules. If these points are adhbred to there should be no problems:
To operate the link connect the Z88 to the PCs COM.l serial part and run PCLink on iM Z88
. using n l. All further op^erations arc now handled on the PC. Move to the directory- oiv the PC
containing PCLink and enter the command PCLINK. Communications will be established and a
display will appear cn the PC showing the two computers in diagrammatic form. , ^
To prevent conversion difficulties it is suggested that files that need to be converted be moved to the
PCLINK directory before conversion takes place. It is often best to work all uansfers to and from
this directory. If you perform conversions in another directory the resulting converted files will not
contain any data.
4 9
File Transfer
Some Possible Links Between the Z88 and Other Computers
Z88 ^
Computer
MacLink or
MacLink
PCLink ROM
Program
Kermit
Kermit
Macintosh ^
Computer ^
Pipedream Print
Command
Mac Terminal
Emulator
Impon/Expori
Application
RangcrDisk
Drive and ROM
Impori/F,xpon
Application
I RangcrDisk
ve and ROM
Pipcdream Print
' Command
Terminal -
Emulator
Another ^
Computer
IrhDort/Exporl
Application
Import/Export
Driver?
Xermit
Kermit
Another ,
Z88 .
5 0
TS2068 UPDATE ISSUE DISKS
These disks contain at least one major piece of software written
specifically for disk drive and are guaranteed to De worth the
money. The rest of the disks are filled with varicuG utility
programs taken from the issues of UPDATE and a few surprises
thrown in. Half of the money goes to the .author and is meant to
encourage nev^ programming for the TS2068 that makes use of the
various disk drive systemsc All are $20,00 per disk (add $1.00
Ccmada) except where noted in the listing. PostagvS and handling
is included. Both 3 1/2 and 5 1/4, 40 and 80 track available.
Please add $5.00 for mailing to other countries. We accept
personal checks, company ch'^cks, money orders. No charge catds
please. - .. **
1) Daisy Word Processosr, now available for Aerco and Oliger.
2) Bob Hartuhg DOSDEX UTILITY ISSUE dYsk, a complete disk
management group of programs for the Oliger Interface only. This
includes Mul ti -•Manager for fil^ handling* This collebtion has
recently been updated and ezjianded.
3) MAIL MERGE ISSUE DISK, Oct 87 and Jan 88 issues of UPDATE
utilities added to fill out this disk. Includes tutor program
for the Mail :Merge progrcim/ List Looker, Purity; J-Otilities and
Extra Memory ; Utilities. Larkeri; Oliger and Aerco versions.
4) WIDJUP'S CAD program; this will give you prof'ssional results
from your TS2068 for computer aided design. Authored by William
J. Pedersen, perhaps the NO.l duthority on the inner workingfj of
the TS2068. This program can be used to create user friendly
printed circuit boards, computf^r art or -ip.Fiktr.p p-iblishing f^les
It does not need expanded memory cartridges ^nti in available in
four versions; (a) Oliger for either IBM comp ot
for the Olivetti Ink Jet. (b) Larken for IBM compatible pointers
or the Olivetti Ink Jet printer. Please specify vcirsion. NEWl
5) OLIGER DISK DRIVE BBS PROGRAM, this allows users of ^ the
Oliger interface to be able to operate a disk based bulletin
board from the TS2G68. The disk is also filled with iaiany other
Oliger disk routines and? tips on using the OHger , System. Nevr by
Paul Holmgren. Can use upto four DSQD disk drives.
6) The HYBISCUS ENSEMBLE, consisting of two separate, but
complimentary sets of programs. A) Daisy. B6 Ensemble, and B)
Udbm.B6 Ensemble. LKDOS only, $22 each or $36 for both. The best
file and database available for Larkeh, by Bill Jones. The price
remains the same on this one, no change. Wordprocessor included.
7) TS2068 Super Calc by Bill Jones. Available in both Larkeh and
Oliger formats. Handles loans, amortization, savings and fixed
investments, plus a calculator and all for only $15.
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS invites you to submit software programs
that may become Issue Disks. Please submit program on disk, with
documentation and article to accompany the program. Our goal is
to get North American software available and known. We also
solicit minor programs, tips and utilities for print in future
issues of the magazine. Please do not submit unlistable programs
or copy protected programs.
QL UPDATE ISSUE DISKS
These disks contain at least one major piece of software written
specifically for disk drive and are guaranteed to be worth the
money. The rest of the disks are f il led with various util ity
programs taken from the issues of UPDATE and a few surprises
thrown in . Hal f of the money goes to the author and is meant to
encourage new programming for the QL that makes use of the
disk drive systems , and m icrodr ives on both the expanded and
unexpanded QL. Where poss ible we will give a version for each of
these configurations. Some of the programs take advantage of TK2
by Tony Tebby. All are 20.00, except QLuster, which is $15.00;
includes P & H, add $1.00 CAN . Available as 3 1/2 or 5 1/4 disks.
Add $5.00 for mail ing to other countries . We accept personal
checks , company checks , money orders as well as Internat ional
Postal Money Orders , but no charge cards . I f ordering on MOV,
then please include one that is al ready formatted, so we will
know it will run on your QL. Due to the expense of MDVs this is
necessary. If two MDVs are required we will state so in the ad.
1) HARTUNG UTILITY ISSUE DISK- Several excellent programs such
as stand alone data base, Address, and QSO files. All are in
Superbasic. Lots of hints and tricks for programmers. Requires
some knowledge of Superbasic or a yen to learn. Recently updated"
by Bob Hartung. Address file can be used as inventory program.
It can print out labels. Both screen or paper printouts can be
by Alpha sort, or be by last name.
2) CABLE ARCHIVE ISSUE DISK- Contains six Archive programs along
with Doc files to get you going on making use of the Archive
programming language. Also has Tasket , plus Doc file, to give
you multi-tasking on your QL ( much cheaper than ORAM or
Taskmaster). Included is Arithmetic, a Superbasic program for
math, along with math drills. This is for both the advanced and
beginner user and greatly extends the use of Archive. To order
on microdrive send two formatted microdrives, too much for one!
3) QLUSTER ISSUE DISK by Al Feng- Ql utilities to unclutter your
disks and microdrives. COPY, DELETE, FORMAT, PRINT, VIEW, plus
extended use of some Tool Kit 2 commands. TK2 is required. These
are TURBO compiled for speed. Multitasks and uses minimal key
presses. Includes Fast-Disk and Veg^mat2, a super clone making
program. Also Snap Shot-a directory column or condensed printout
program.
4) DOS EMULATOR COMPANION ISSUE DISK by Al Feng- Just released
in Oct. issue. Makes better use of Solution, PC Conqueror,
Discover, XOVER, QLuster and scr_codes. If you are going to use
the emulators, then check this out, you won't regret this buy.
5) QLuMSi DOS by Al Feng- a MSDOS simulator and front end
program for the QL, also includes other programs by AL Feng for
file management and cloning of programs. A Great Learning Tool
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS invites you to submit software programs
that may become Issue Disks. Please submit program on disk, with
documentation and article to accompany the program. We are here
to get North American software available and known. We solicit
programs, tips, reviews and utilities for future issues.
Live Music
Archive
Librivox
Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland
Museum of Art
Internet
Arcade
Console Living Room
Open Library
American
Libraries
TV News
Understanding
9/11